Background on the Situation
On this Saturday, the majority bloc of Morena-PVEM-PT in the Querétaro Congress rejected the state budget presented by Panista Governor Mauricio Kuri González. The legislators accused the project of exhibiting a marked discrimination in resource allocation towards municipalities associated with the Fourth Transformation.
Key Concerns and Criticisms
The morenistas argue that the figures presented by Governor Mauricio Kuri do not represent a solution to the state’s structural problems, reflects misplaced priorities, and shows an alarming disconnect from the social and economic reality faced by thousands of people.
During the budget discussion, they also accused it of failing to address regional disparities effectively and lacking balanced development across the state. They denounced a clear bias in resource allocation towards municipalities linked to the Fourth Transformation, such as Pedro Escobedo, Ezequiel Montes, Tequisquiapan, and Cadereyta.
Specifically, they highlighted a substantial decrease in public works by the local government of Pedro Escobedo for 2025, with only 19.67 million pesos allocated—less than 20% of the state investment in the lowest year (24.06 million pesos in 2022) and more than five times less than the investment in 2020 (103.53 million pesos).
Similarly, they pointed out that federal resource allocation to Ezequiel Montes and Tequisquiapan municipalities is regressive.
Opposition to Contingency Measures
Morena legislators also expressed their opposition to the contingency measures within the 2026 Fiscal Package, stating that these impose new burdens on citizens instead of reorienting spending.
The 2026 Fiscal Package includes 60 million pesos for Emergency Provisions and Civil Protection, along with the proposal to create a Contingency Prevision Fund. This fund would be fed by adding a 141-peso charge to certain state permits exceeding 10 UMAS. They estimate this mechanism could generate between 200 and 250 million pesos annually.
However, they criticize the lack of a clear strategy to strengthen public services or guarantee basic rights. They also point out the absence of evaluation and accountability mechanisms, which they believe could lead to wasteful spending and inefficiency.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue? The Querétaro Congress majority, led by Morena, has rejected the state budget presented by Governor Mauricio Kuri due to perceived discrimination in resource allocation and misplaced priorities.
- Which municipalities are affected by the budget cuts? Pedro Escobedo, Ezequiel Montes, Tequisquiapan, and Cadereyta are among the municipalities facing significant budget cuts.
- What are the concerns regarding the 2026 Fiscal Package? Morena legislators are opposed to the contingency measures within the package, arguing that they impose new burdens on citizens instead of reorienting spending.
- How much will the Contingency Prevision Fund generate? The fund is estimated to generate between 200 and 250 million pesos annually, but critics question its effectiveness in strengthening public services or guaranteeing basic rights.
