May 19th, 2023

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1. Diplomatic conflict between Mexico and Peru

The latest declarations of the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, increased international tensions due to his previously expressed refusal to hand over the presidency of the Pacific Alliance to Peru.

The Peruvian dignitary, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, sent several letters in the last few months for her Mexican counterpart to hand over the title; the Pacific Alliance is made up of Colombia, Chile, Mexico and Peru, the latter being in charge of leading the event in 2023. In statements to the media, López Obrador said that his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, also supports his decision. Regarding the Chilean president, Gabriel Boric, he avoided giving further details.

El País: El conflicto diplomático entre México y Perú se enciende por la disputa de la presidencia de la Alianza del Pacífico
Infobae: Nuevo conflicto diplomático por Alianza del Pacífico complica relaciones bilaterales con Colombia y México

2. President meets with Grupo Mexico

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador met twice with Germán Larrea, owner of Grupo México, whose firm is interested in acquiring Banamex. During a morning meeting, the President gave his approval for Citigroup to sell its Banamex unit to businessman Germán Larrea, with whom he accepted that he has some differences. The President stated “If it is going to be Grupo Mexico, there will be no problem. We have differences with them, but that is another matter, that is another song; in the case of the sale or purchase of the bank there is no problem”.

The President reminded that the rules were already defined by preferring that the buyer of the bank be of Mexican capital, which is fulfilled in this case. Other requirements are that the acquiring company be up to date with its tax payments and that the tax for the operation be paid.

El Financiero: AMLO se reúne con Germán Larrea, de Grupo México, ante compra de Banamex 

3. Mexico to activate TMEC due to Texas transportation inspections

The Ministry of Economy called on the United States to withdraw the extensive inspections of cargo transportation on its border with Texas and warned that it will take the case to the trade facilitation committee of the North American trade agreement, known as TMEC.

In a press release, the agency explained that the inspections at the border have caused delays of eight to 27 hours for Mexican vehicles to enter the neighboring country, as well as millions of dollars in economic losses. At the beginning of May, Texas began inspecting commercial vehicles crossing into the state from Mexico on a bridge connecting the U.S. city of Brownsville and the Mexican city of Matamoros. Last year, U.S. Governor Greg Abbott ordered similar inspections that caused major disruptions in the supply chain, arguing that they were necessary to increase security efforts.

Aristegui Noticias: México activará TMEC por revisiones a transporte de Texas

4. Final stretch of the elections in the State of Mexico; and the map of the presidential succession moves

The National Electoral Institute (INE) refused to apply precautionary measures against Morena’s presidential aspirants, Claudia Sheinbaum, Marcelo Ebrard and Adán Augusto López for allegedly committing acts in anticipation of campaigning.

While the national coordinator of the Mexican Green Ecologist Party (PVEM), Karen Castrejón ruled out that her party would decline in favor of Morena’s candidate, Armando Guadiana, in the Coahuila elections, as requested by the party’s national president, Mario Delgado. From the same party, Senator Manuel Velasco Coello was received by militants and sympathizers of the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (PVEM) as its pre-candidate for the presidency of Mexico for 2024.

Proceso:  PVEM destapa a Manuel Velasco como precandidato a la Presidencia para 2024

5. 8% increase in teachers’ salaries in Mexico approved

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced an 8.2% salary increase for education workers and teachers during the commemoration of Teachers’ Day on May 15. In addition, he assured that no teacher or education worker will earn less than 16,000 pesos per month, as he assured that this is the average that workers enrolled in Social Security receive.

He also announced that during the current administration, more than 800,000 education workers have been given bases throughout Mexico. I have informed that the programs and support will be extended to teachers of higher education, incorporated to the national system of teachers.

El Economista: Habrá aumento salarial del 8.2% para maestros: AMLO