Introduction to Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s Administration
During Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration (2019-2024), the Federal Auditing Board (ASF) recorded a total of 58,779.9 million pesos that required clarification or recovery.
Decline in Pendent Claims
According to the 2024 Public Account Report, the amount pending clarification or recovery stood at 5,823.5 million pesos, an 81.8% decrease from the previous year’s 32,044.5 million pesos.
This places 2024 among the lowest figures in the past six years, following a historical surge in 2023. Between 2019 and 2024, the amounts observed ranged from 3,688 million pesos (2019) to over 32,000 million pesos (2023).
Number of Audits
During the review of the 2024 Public Account, ASF conducted 698 audits, the lowest number since 2019 when 1,361 were performed. In contrast, 2023 was the year with the most audits, totaling 2,369.
Audits with the Highest Amounts
Audits with the Largest Amounts in 2024:
- Audit 2024-A-30000-19-2006-06-009: A probable damage to public finances of 730 million 64,000 pesos due to irregularities in federal resource application.
- Audit 2024-A-13000-19-1115-03-001: A request for clarification to the Hidalgo State Government for 531 million pesos, as supporting documentation was not presented.
Audits with the Largest Amounts in 2023:
- Audit 2023-A-19000-19-1455-03-004 to the Nuevo León State Government: 1,354 million 334,000 pesos.
- Audit 2023-A-17000-19-1348-03-010 to the Morelos State Government: 1,151 million 242,000 pesos.
- Audit 2023-A-15000-19-0917-06-003: A probable damage of 921 million 760,000 pesos.
In 2022, the largest observation was in audit 2022-A-10000-19-0785-06-002, amounting to 366 million 480,000 pesos, followed by audit 2022-A-10000-19-0787-06-003, with 340 million 431,000 pesos.
In 2021, the most relevant audit was 2021-A-20000-19-1328-06-001, estimating a damage to public finances of 298 million 802,000 pesos. Another significant case was audit 2021-6-90T9N-22-0206-06-002 applied to Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) for 269 million 139,000 pesos.
The year 2020 also concentrated notable irregularities, with Liconsa, S.A. de C.V. being the most relevant case, with a probable damage to the treasury of 518 million 422,000 pesos in audit 2020-2-08VST-23-0330-06-003.
In 2019, the most significant audit was 2019-E-20005-19-1473-06-001, with 1,339 million 164,000 pesos pending clarification. Other relevant cases in the same year included audit 2019-A-16000-19-0882-06-002, with 307 million pesos, and audit 2019-6-90T9M-19-0410-06-001, with 282 million 933,000 pesos.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: Who is Andrés Manuel López Obrador? A: He is a Mexican politician who served as President of Mexico from December 1, 2018, to December 1, 2024.
- Q: What is the Federal Auditing Board (ASF)? A: The ASF is an independent body responsible for auditing the accounts of the federal government in Mexico.
- Q: What does it mean when there are “pendent claims” or amounts “pending clarification or recovery”? A: These terms refer to financial irregularities, potential damages, or unaccounted funds identified by the ASF during its audits.
- Q: Why is it important to monitor these pendent claims? A: Tracking these claims ensures transparency, accountability, and proper use of public funds.
- Q: How do the numbers reflect on López Obrador’s administration? A: The amounts pending clarification or recovery decreased significantly from 2023 to 2024, but the administration still faced substantial financial irregularities during its tenure.
