Businessmen Offered Help / Turns to Pope’s Tweet

Businessmen offered help. After meeting yesterday with a group of Mexico City businessmen, President López Obrador said they didn’t ask for help, but offered him support to execute his plans. He stated that Carlos Slim, Alberto Bailleres and German Larrea endorsed his recovery plan, and are also taking care of their employees and suppliers during the contingency. “They are willing to do what the government asks of them, that was the atmosphere of the conversation,” the president said. Today, he will hold another meeting with Monterrey businessmen.

Turns to Pope’s tweet. President López Obrador lamented that some people are criticizing him for just caring about the poor and said that, regardless of everyone’s religion “we forget the gospels, or we are not consistent.” The president picked up a tweet from Pope Francis to defend his policy. “We will be judged for our relationship with the poor,” the president quoted and said families must talk about these topics during Easter because materialism has a had a great impact in recent years.

Congratulates doctors and nurses. Minister of Health Jorge Alcocer thanked all personnel working to contain the COVID-19 health emergency, and particularly all nurses. “If it weren't for you, nothing could move forward today or yesterday or tomorrow,” he said. President López Obrador also congratulated doctors and nurses on International Health Day. “I thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you have done. For taking care of the sick and saving lives,” he said.

Asks parties to donate. President López Obrador called on political parties to donate half of their budgets to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The president said that starting tomorrow he will expose which parties have agreed make their donations. “It would be very good if parties expressed their willingness to hand over half of their budgets,” he said.

Asks people not to vacation at Easter. Although he assured that people are abiding by health and safety protocols meant to contain the pandemic, like social distancing, President López Obrador called on people to avoid traveling to beaches or resorts during Easter.

-----

Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish.