Leftist Governance in Nezahualcóyotl for Three Decades
For three decades, with interruptions, the left has governed Nezahualcóyotl. Between 1996 and 2010, the mayors from the PRD (Party of Democratic Revolution), led by Andrés Manuel López Obrador, controlled the political landscape. During this period, Movidig, a group headed by brothers Héctor and Víctor Bautista, advocated for the regularization of occupied lands along the Bordo de Xochiaca.
Movidig’s Influence and the Displacement of Grupo de Acción Política
Movidig successfully challenged Grupo de Acción Política, which was then led by Higinio Martínez and held sway in Texcoco. The Bautista brothers established a presence in Nezahualcóyotl, while another member, José Luis Gutiérrez Cureño, did the same in Ecatepec. Both cities promoted the Alternativa Democrática Nacional, which eventually took control of the PRD’s machinery in the State of Mexico and coexisted with the peñismo without significant conflict.
The Neza II and III Development Project
In early 2009, during Víctor Manuel Bautista’s final year as mayor, the council approved the construction of a new “clean urban development” complex on a strip of land that was once a dump site.
Neza II and III became abandoned adjacent areas following the closure of the dump sites, leading to an irregular urban settlement that eventually became a security concern due to neglected land.
The peñista government promoted the environmental rehabilitation of Bordo de Xochiaca, constructing a High-Tech Logistics Center, a Botanical Garden, and an Urban Park.
The perredista-majority council authorized the disincorporation of the lots (737,185 square meters) on February 12, 2009. A year and a half later, the state legislature, controlled by priistas, authorized the state executive to sell them.
Over two six-year terms and four municipal administrations, Clat Neza Bicentenario failed to materialize the project. On August 29, 2023, Morenista alcalde Adolfo Cerqueda Rebollo received his council’s mandate to initiate the recovery of the lands before then-governor Alfredo del Mazo.
The failure to comply with a transitional clause in the peñista decree, which required a legal act to authenticate the sale of the lands, supported his claim.
It took another year and a half for the alcalde morenista’s efforts, supported by Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard and President Claudia Sheinbaum, to succeed.
PODECOBI Initiative: A Legacy of the López Obrador Administration
The PODECOBI initiative is a legacy of the López Obrador administration. At the start of her tenure, President Claudia Sheinbaum proposed the Plan México and a new package of PODECOBI developments, adding to the eight Corredor Interoceánico projects overseen by the Navy Secretariat. In total, there are 26 projects—15 new ones—to be executed in the upcoming quinquennium. The strategic sectors for PODECOBI are:
- Agroindustry
- Aerospace and defense
- Automotive and electromobility
- Consumer goods
- Pharmaceuticals and medical devices
- Electronics and semiconductors
- Energy
- Chemicals and petrochemicals
- Textiles and footwear
- Circular economy
- Clean energy
- Metallurgical basic industries
- Paper industry
- Plastics industry
- Logistics
- Metalworking
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and why is he relevant? Andrés Manuel López Obrador is a Mexican politician who served as the President of Mexico from 2018 to the present. He played a significant role in shaping the political landscape of the State of Mexico, where he guided the Party of Democratic Revolution (PRD) to prominence.
- What is Movidig, and who led it? Movidig was a political group in Nezahualcóyotl, led by brothers Héctor and Víctor Bautista. They advocated for the regularization of occupied lands along the Bordo de Xochiaca.
- What is the PODECOBI initiative? The PODECOBI initiative is a development program launched by the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum, focusing on strategic sectors such as agroindustry, aerospace, automotive, electronics, energy, and more. It aims to execute 26 projects over the next quinquennium.
