Introduction
Ramón Castro Castro, the president of the Mexican Episcopate, has painted a stark picture of the pervasive influence of organized crime in Mexico. He emphasizes that this infiltration has seeped into every sector of society, including government institutions, making it nearly impossible to avoid interaction with criminal elements regardless of one’s profession.
Government Progress and Challenges
While acknowledging the progress made by President Sheinbaum’s administration in enhancing security, it is evident that resolving the consequences of the toxic legacy of insecurity will be a lengthy process. This stems from the lax policies implemented during the previous six-year term.
The U.S. government under Donald Trump has imposed demands and pressures on Mexico, compelling the current administration to prioritize strengthening unity within their political party. This, unfortunately, introduces conditions that affect the pace of the revitalized security policy.
Upcoming Elections as a Test
The upcoming judicial and municipal elections in Veracruz and Durango will serve as a comprehensive trial run for the federal government, morenistas governors, and the ruling party’s leadership.
Despite attempts by the government’s propaganda machine and official/spontaneous interpreters to downplay the replication of past electoral practices, it is undeniable that these elections will test the capacity of mobilization and operation for the government, party leaders, and morenistas governors without the central, polarizing, yet attractive figure of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
CNTE’s Demands and Financial Implications
The National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) has been adamant about their demands, despite acknowledging the absence of a government budget capable of meeting them. The teachers are aware that there is no financial provision for their requests, yet they persist in insisting on the availability of funds from private retirement accounts (Afore).
The CNTE’s persistence may be attributed to their past experiences of leaving protests with some form of concession. However, it remains unclear whether their backers aim to pressure the government into nationalizing Afore or simply disrupt public finances.
Miscellaneous Notes
- Governors’ Concerns: During a meeting with 24 morenistas governors to review IMSS-Bienestar programs, concerns were raised about the efficient supply of medicines and medical supplies. This raises questions about whether the federal government’s LPG policy constitutes a “soft expropriation.”
- Jesús Murillo Karam’s Statement: A federal judge’s ruling indicates that no evidence has disproved the “historical truth” claimed by former Attorney General Jesús Murillo Karam regarding the Ayotzinapa normalistas’ murder.
- Leadership vs. Management: According to management expert Peter Drucker, “administering is doing things right; leading is doing the right thing.”
