Complaints Against López-Gatell/Irregularities in PEMEX Union

Deputy Minister of Health to be investigated. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said that the accusations against Deputy Health Minister Hugo López-Gatell for mishandling the pandemic were made by people who hate the government and have bad faith. López Obrador said that López-Gatell is a professional who has sought the good of all Mexicans, for which he should not be reproached but rather thanked.

A judge ordered the Attorney General's Office to investigate López-Gatell for the deaths of people during the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation follows several complaints from relatives of those who have died from COVID-19 since November 2020. Among the accusations is the lack of seriousness and care in handling the pandemic and not taking sufficient measures to prevent more deaths. Ganther Villar, Federal Control Judge, said that the Prosecutor's Office cannot ignore the request and if it rejects it, it must give a well-founded response.

Protection mechanisms for journalists will be strengthened. López Obrador announced that due to the death of journalist Lourdes Maldonado, all protection mechanisms for journalists and activists will be reviewed to prevent these crimes. “Agreements will be sought with the state governments to deepen this important issue of the protection of journalists. I am already working on that to improve everything related to their protection.”

Mexico is considered one of the most dangerous countries for journalists and activists. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, 141 journalists have been killed in the last 30 years. In 2012, the Special Prosecutor's Office for the Attention of Crimes Committed against Freedom of Expression was created to investigate this type of crime. However, it has only achieved four convictions out of 803 investigations. This figure shows a rate of impunity in the murders of journalists in Mexico of 99.6 percent. Last week, Maldonado was assassinated despite having previously asked the government for help. Maldonado's death is the third homicide against journalists in 2022. Previously, Margarito Martínez was murdered in Tijuana and José Gamboa in Veracruz.

Question for the consultation on revocation of mandate could be modified. López Obrador said that he has no opposition to modifying and shortening the question for the consultation of his revocation of mandate because the most important thing is that it be carried out. “This is a superficial issue, not deep, which is what matters to us. What is important? To ask people, “do you want the president to continue or to resign?” That's it. I am not opposed to changing it, I just want it to happen."

This week, Jorge Pardo, minister of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, proposed to modify the question for the consultation on the revocation of mandate. Currently, the question is, “Do you agree that (name), President of the United Mexican States, be revoked due to loss of trust or remain in the Presidency of the Republic until the end of his term?” According to Pardo, it would be better to end the question with the word trust, since it is considered that the other part is another question and it opens the door to the ratification of the president's position.

Irregularities in PEMEX Union elections. Minister of Labor Luisa María Alcalde said that so far 22 complaints have been received for irregularities during the electoral campaigns of PEMEX Union. Additionally, Alcalde called on all the people who have seen any irregularities to file complaints, which can be anonymous and must have evidence for the authorities to take action. “So far, 22 complaints have been received. It is important because previously they asked us if we had received any complaint and it was not the case. The complaints made on the networks help to highlight the problem, but it is important that it be done through the existing mechanisms, otherwise the cases cannot be addressed.”

On Feb. 3, around 90,000 PEMEX workers will vote in the union's first direct election. The election is the result of a labor reform that allowed workers to choose their representation. This week, most union candidates have criticized Union Treasurer Ricardo Aldana and PEMEX Union Leader Romero Deschamps for their links to corruption.