Background and Context
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the head of Mexico City’s government, has distanced the Mexican Navy (Semar) from political proselytizing activities that took place on the Cuauhtémoc training ship in New York. The incident involved supporters of the Movimiento Regeneración Nacional (Morena) party promoting their preferred candidates for positions in Mexico’s Supreme Court and encouraging citizen participation in the upcoming June 1 elections.
Sheinbaum’s Response
During her regular press conference at Palacio Nacional, Sheinbaum addressed the issue directly. She emphasized that the Mexican Navy was not involved in these activities, stating:
“Evidently, this has nothing to do with the Navy’s involvement. It was simply that visitors recorded a video, which is important for everyone to know because even former President Felipe Calderón was tweeting about it.”
Details of the Incident
Sheinbaum explained that the ship was open to the public, and visitors sometimes record videos during their visits. However, on this occasion, some individuals used the opportunity to discuss the upcoming judicial elections and promote specific candidates:
“There were some people who recorded a video while they were on board, talking about the judicial election. It’s crucial for everyone to understand that the ship is usually open to the public when it docks at a port. People from New York, as well as many Mexican expatriates, know that the Cuauhtémoc ship arrives and visit to learn about it. They receive explanations regarding the ship’s purpose.”
Criticism of Political Exploitation
Sheinbaum criticized those who politically exploited the Cuauhtémoc ship accident, which occurred when the vessel collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on a Saturday night, resulting in the deaths of two Mexican sailors. She described their actions as “miserable,” especially considering the tragic loss of life.
“How do I categorize this attack on the Navy and my government? It’s miserable. There is no other word; it’s sheer meanness, especially when two young lives were lost.”
Morena Supporters’ Actions
Hours before the ship accident, Morena supporters recorded videos inside the Cuauhtémoc and shared them on social media, advocating for Lenia Batres, César Mario Gutiérrez Priego, and Isaac de Paz—candidates for positions on Mexico’s Supreme Court.
Key Questions and Answers
- What was the incident involving the Cuauhtémoc ship? Supporters of the Morena party recorded videos on the ship promoting their preferred candidates for positions in Mexico’s Supreme Court and encouraging citizen participation in the upcoming judicial elections.
- Who distanced the Mexican Navy from the political proselytizing activities? Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the head of Mexico City’s government, clarified that the Navy was not involved in these activities.
- What was Sheinbaum’s reaction to the political exploitation of the ship accident? Sheinbaum criticized those who used the tragic incident for political gain, describing their actions as “miserable.”
- What are the names of the Morena candidates promoted in the videos? Lenia Batres, César Mario Gutiérrez Priego, and Isaac de Paz are the candidates mentioned in the videos recorded by Morena supporters on the Cuauhtémoc ship.
