Claudia Sheinbaum's Presidency: Summary and Analysis of Day 20

Mexico's high-tech exports to the US surpassed those of China, Los Chapitos to enter a plea deal with the US government, ban on junk food in Mexican schools...this is day 20 of Sheinbaum's presidency.

President Sheinbaum began today’s mañanera lamenting the murder of Father Marcelo Pérez Pérez. The priest was traveling between Sunday services when he was shot and killed yesterday morning in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. Sheinbaum affirmed that an investigation is ongoing and that his death will not go unpunished. It is unclear at this point if the investigation will be led by the Attorney General’s Office of Chiapas or the federal Attorney General.

Trouble regarding Mexico’s judicial branch continues. President Sheinbaum stated that the country is not undergoing a judicial golpe de estado (coup) but rather is experiencing judicial resistance as imposed by workers of the judicial branch who are opposed to leaving their current positions. She emphasized that this reform passed by a large majority in both chambers of Congress but it is the judges, magistrates, and ministers who are currently holding up the reform. President Sheinbaum affirmed that members of the judicial branch are entitled to hold their own morning press conferences (of note, they take place at the same time as Sheinbaum’s) but encouraged people to call into question whether judicial branch workers are continuing to receive a salary, despite being on strike. Rosa Icela Rodríguez, the Head of Mexico’s Ministry of the Interior, stated that nearly 13,000 hearings have been canceled in the weeks since the strike’s initiation.

At a hearing today, an attorney for Los Chapitos, Ovidio and Joaquín Guzmán López (sons of El Chapo), confirmed that his clients are negotiating a plea deal with the US government. This marks the first time that their lawyer has acknowledged negotiation with US authorities, though rumors surrounding the prospect initially emerged in August, following a report from Milenio. Today’s hearing was to permit Jeffrey Lichtman to represent both brothers - he also represented El Chapo in 2019. Of note, just today, El Chapo submitted a letter to the Brooklyn federal court to request a new trial, “…citing “ineffective” representation and “illegal” extradition to New York.”

Mexico’s advanced technology exports to the US reached $9.8 billion USD in August 2024, compared to China’s of $8.7 billion and Taiwan’s of $8.5 billion.

Since the announcement of the new pension program for women ages 60 to 64 years old, more than 700,000 women have enrolled in the program. Participants will receive an additional $3000 Mexican pesos ($150 USD) on a bimonthly basis.

Mario Delgado, the Head of the Ministry of Public Education, announced a ban on the sale of junk food in Mexico’s public schools starting on March 29, 2025.