Background and Relevance of Juan Antonio Ferrer Aguilar
Juan Antonio Ferrer Aguilar, a native of Tenosique, Tabasco (born 1964), has had an extensive career in public administration, spanning over two decades. His professional journey includes various roles in federal, state, and municipal governments, as well as a brief stint in the private sector. Ferrer Aguilar holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Business Administration from the Instituto Tecnológico de Villahermosa and the Universidad Olmeca de Tabasco.
Career Highlights
- Subsecretary of Integration and Development in the Federal Secretariat of Health (2023-2025)
- Director General of the Institute for Health and Well-being (Insabi) during the previous administration
- Director of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) in Tabasco, Veracruz, and Chiapas between 1987 and 2012
- Administrator of archaeological zones in Papantla, Veracruz
- Director of Palenque, Yaxchilán, and Bonampak in Chiapas
- Director of the State Central of Machinery in Tabasco (1995-1998)
- Secretary of the Ayuntamiento in Centro, Villahermosa (2013-2015)
- Director of the DIF in Centro, Villahermosa (2016-2018)
Senate Confirmation and Controversy
With 24 votes in favor and 8 against, the Mexican Senate confirmed Juan Antonio Ferrer Aguilar as Mexico’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, France. He was proposed for this position in March by President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
Senator Lilly Téllez (PAN) opposed the appointment, accusing Ferrer Aguilar of failing to manage the Insabi effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic, including overpriced purchases of masks, ventilators, and tests. She criticized his alleged neglect of hospital supplies, stating, “Instead of going to jail, he’s being sent to Paris, paid for with your taxes after leaving hospitals without medicines or health services…”
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Juan Antonio Ferrer Aguilar? He is a Tabasqueño with extensive experience in public administration, holding degrees in Business Administration and having served in various roles across federal, state, and municipal governments.
- What is his new role? He has been confirmed as Mexico’s ambassador and permanent representative to UNESCO in Paris, France.
- Why is his appointment controversial? Senator Lilly Téllez criticized Ferrer Aguilar’s management of the Insabi during the COVID-19 pandemic, alleging overpriced purchases and neglect of hospital supplies.
