AMLO: Second Best President / Ayotzinapa Case

AMLO: Second-Best President. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said that he remains the president with the second-best approval rate in the world. "Our humility allows us to connect and help people. We are doing quite well and I thank the Mexicans for their support."

According to the Morning Consult poll, López Obrador has a 66% approval rate, which places him behind India's Naredra Modi, who has a 77% approval. 

Ayotzinapa Case. The president said that, during his administration, 20 militars and 2 generals have been imprisoned for their involvement in the disappearance of the students from Ayotzinapa. "The most important thing is to punish those allegedly responsible. We will do justice before the end of my term." In addition, López Obrador informed that next Monday, there will be a meeting with the relatives of the students to give them more information about the case.

In 2014, during former president Enrique Peña Nieto’s administration, 43 students disappeared in Iguala, Guerrero. The government reported they were murdered by the United Warriors Cartel in Cocula and, according to the past administration, it was the Iguala police and army who handed over the students to the criminal group. Nevertheless, since the reopening of the case, new findings incriminating Enrique Peña Nieto’s government are popping up. The Truth Commission of the Ayotzinapa case reported that among the students there was an infiltrated soldier. In addition, former Army General Salvador Cienfuegos assured that the army was not involved in the case. However, new findings showed that some elements were in contact with the criminal group during the event.

Relations With Peru. López Obrador said that although he did not pass through Peruvian airspace during his Latin American tour due to the tense relationship with the Peruvian government, he did allow Peruvian President Dina Boluarte to pass through Mexico's airspace.  

Diplomatic tensions between Peru and Mexico have risen due to opinions and criticism from López Obrador, who has supported former Peruvian President Pedro Castillo. In December 2022, Castillo was removed from office after an attempted coup. Castillo was deposed after he tried to dissolve the Peruvian Congress, following corruption allegations. He then asked for political asylum in Mexico but was arrested before he could reach the Mexican Embassy. Dina Boluarte, former Vice President of Peru, is temporarily occupying the role of Head of State, becoming the first woman to do so.

On several occasions, the Mexican president has accused the new government of ousting Castillo for his leftist alignment. The Peruvian government has flagged these comments as political interference by the Mexican authorities. In addition, the new administration decided to definitively dismiss the Mexico Ambassador in Peru, declaring Pablo Monroy persona non grata, while also removing the Peruvian Ambassador from Mexico.