Public Scrutiny and Mexico’s International Image
Many of you may not realize how Mexico is perceived abroad. Today, despite every fiber in me, I feel compelled to share this with you because you need to know.
As I walk through the corridors of Congress in Washington, many people recognize me and know that I report in Spanish for media in Mexico and the United States. Because of this, many approach me without being asked, expressing their deep concern for what’s happening in my country.
The next thing I often hear is:
Don’t you guys have a security strategy yet?
- Yes, unfortunately, corruption is rampant in Mexico’s public sector.
- Yes, the number of politicians and officials colluded with drug cartels is growing.
- Yes, insecurity and crime are constant plagues, with impunity only for those in positions of power.
My role is not to excuse or justify the Mexican government. I’d like to respond not on behalf of the government, but as a representative of civil society…
What would you say?
Corruption and Crime Sinking Mexico
According to Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, Mexico ranked 140 out of 180 countries, highlighting the extensive corruption in the public sector.
The pervasive influence of organized crime daily generates high levels of violence and a sense of insecurity among many citizens. The economic cost is also immense: criminal activity is estimated to have cost Mexico’s economy 18% of its Gross Domestic Product in a single year.
In a country where 35 out of every 100 Mexicans live in extreme poverty, 18% is a staggering figure.
- Mexico is no longer growing as it once did.
- It’s not competing as it used to.
- It’s no longer taken seriously as it once was.
The Multifaceted Path Forward
Addressing the multiple challenges facing Mexico requires a unified, multifaceted approach driven by the collective will of its population.
That’s why I commend Ricardo Salinas Pliego and his “Movement Against Crime and Corruption” (MAAC).
Let me explain why I support him and his initiative. In this moment of desperation in Mexico, strengthening institutions and the rule of law is crucial, and only the brave dare to do it.
Empowering Mexicans and strengthening communities is a step towards a better Mexico.
Grassroots Movements and Local Organizations: Key Change Agents
Supporting initiatives like MAAC, which aim to foster social cohesion, provide opportunities for youth, and promote a culture of peace, can create a powerful counter-narrative against the influence of criminal organizations.
We need to find ways to foster and increase economic opportunities.
Friends, we can’t continue to watch silently as we lose opportunities of all kinds!
Mexico could have become a microprocessor production base, but the government let that opportunity slip away. Mexico could have competed to replace China as the world’s factory… But that opportunity also vanished because the country was preoccupied with internal political power struggles.
Let’s examine the state of education in Mexico. Global statistics place us at the bottom.
Mexican children and youth rank 58th out of 72 countries in educational attainment. Mexico currently occupies the last position among OECD members, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
Promoting Education Over Handouts
If giving handouts to people were a good policy, it would be practiced by developed nations. While it’s commendable that Mexico assists the elderly and the sick, public spending should not primarily consist of giving money to those who can earn it through work and contribution.
It’s true that negative statistics do not define all of Mexico.
This nation has a long and distinguished history of overcoming adversity, from the complexities of its colonial past to struggles for independence and revolution. This historical resilience has been a powerful source of strength, but it should not be used merely as a campaign slogan to form governments that leave us worse off than they found us.
Invisible Efforts and Persistent Spirit
The fact that numerous individuals and groups across Mexico actively work to build a better Mexico should not be an opportunity to discredit those brave enough to seek a fairer, more productive, better-educated country with greater protections for all its population.
There will be many to laugh, discredit, and insult. To them, I ask…
What have you done for Mexico?
It’s great that civil society organizations advocate for transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.
“Citizen Initiatives” do not aim to harm anyone; they seek to reclaim public spaces, foster a sense of community, and support victims of violence.
It’s time for Mexico to seek genuine democracy. We spent 70 years under a single-party dominance, only to return to the same condition that, in the PRI era, prevented us from progressing.
Those who favor a single party have seen firsthand how a large, important country under one-party rule has only managed to stay poor and backward.
I, for one, am not willing to stumble over the same stone more than once.
Moreover, I’m tired of my country being under public scrutiny abroad.
