Background on the Mexican Congress and its Role
The Mexican Congress, composed of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, is responsible for approving the country’s annual budget. This process ensures that public funds are allocated to various sectors, including education, environment, and infrastructure. The Chamber of Deputies, specifically, recently approved the Presupuesto de Egresos de la Federación (PEF) 2026, setting the stage for public spending in the coming year.
Details of the 2026 Budget Approval
After a marathon session extending into the morning of Thursday, the Chamber of Deputies approved the PEF 2026 both in general terms and specifically, with 12 modifications to reallocate resources to education, environmental protection, and other sectors. The approved budget amounts to 10.1 billion pesos, a 5.9% increase compared to the current year’s budget.
Key Modifications and Controversies
Through 12 reserves presented by legislators from Morena, the Partido Verde Ecologista de México (PVEM), and the Partido del Trabajo (PT), 17,788 million pesos were reallocated. The Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP) was the primary beneficiary, receiving an additional 10,014 million pesos. Meanwhile, the Poder Judicial faced significant cuts, losing 15,815 million pesos from its proposed budget.
The reduction in funding for the Poder Judicial sparked debate and criticism during the San Lázaro Plenary session. Opposition members argued that with ongoing violence in the country, it is unwise to cut resources from an essential institution for dispensing justice.
Legislators’ Perspectives
Diputado Yerico Abramo Masso (PRI) accused Morena of recklessly redirecting resources, while diputada Laura Cristina Márquez Alcalá (PAN) warned that the adjustments could affect ministers’, magistrates’, and judges’ labor rights. However, diputado José Luis Téllez Marín (PT) defended the reallocation, emphasizing the importance of science, humanities, technology, and innovation for social justice and national progress.
Diputado Gibrán Ramírez (MC) criticized Morena and its allies for providing insufficient financial support in education, pointing out that while the Rita Cetina scholarship receives around 27% of the budget, community education faces a 17% reduction in funding.
Debt Financing and Prioritization of Sectors
The upcoming year’s budget, the first fully crafted by President Claudia Sheinbaum’s team, will continue the fiscal consolidation path initiated this year to reduce the deficit to 4.1% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Of the 10.1 billion pesos, 17.6% will come from internal financing. The previously approved Ley de Ingresos de la Federación (LIF) 2026 sets a ceiling of 1.78 billion pesos for internal borrowing.
Prioritized Sectors and Programs
The 2026 budget will prioritize resources for social programs, strategic infrastructure, and essential services such as healthcare, education, food, environment, labor, and culture. Fourteen priority social programs are expected to absorb 987,160 million pesos, with the Adults’ Pension program and Benito Juárez Scholarship Program receiving significant funding.
Thirteen projects are planned, with a proposed expenditure of 536,806 million pesos. Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) stands out as a major investment project, with 247,230 million pesos allocated.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the approved 2026 budget amount? The Mexican Congress approved a 10.1 billion pesos budget for 2026.
- What changes were made to the budget? Twelve modifications were implemented, reallocating resources to education, environmental protection, and other sectors. The Poder Judicial faced significant cuts.
- How will the budget be financed? Seventeen point six percent of the budget will come from internal financing, with a ceiling of 1.78 billion pesos for internal borrowing.
- Which sectors are prioritized in the 2026 budget? The budget prioritizes resources for social programs, strategic infrastructure, and essential services like healthcare, education, food, environment, labor, and culture.
- What are the key social programs in the 2026 budget? Fourteen priority social programs are planned, with significant funding allocated to the Adults’ Pension program and Benito Juárez Scholarship Program.
