El Bronco’s detention/ Mask use in open spaces

“El Bronco” detention. President López Obrador assured that the detention of Jaime Rodríguez Calderón “El Bronco”, Nuevo León’s ex-governor, has no relation with the federal government and it is the state who is in charge of his detention. Nevertheless, he asked Nuevo León for transparency in the case and for the law not be used for as political revenge.

Last Tuesday, March 15, the ex-governor and 2018 presidential candidate, Jaime Rodríguez Calderón, known as “El Bronco”, was detained in Nuevo León for allegedly diverting resources. During the first presidential debate, Jaime Rodríguez said he would “cut off the hands” of those who stole and later proposed the creation of a citizen’s court aimed to observe and take legal pertinent actions against corrupt politicians, kidnappers, rapists and drug dealers. The complaint against Rodríguez Calderón was for embezzlement in the recollection of signatures to validate his candidacy for the 2018 federal elections for which he ran as independent candidate and resulted as the aspirant with less votes.  

The current governor of Nuevo León, Samuel García, presented the complaint and Rodríguez Calderón was transferred to a penal institution in Apodaca, where his legal situation will be determined. More members of El Bronco’s cabinet are targeted by García’s administration.  

José Rafael Ojeda’s nomination. López Obrador explained why he chose José Rafael Ojeda as Head of the Marines. He said that after analyzing all other candidates, he said Ojeda wrote a book in the 80’s against corruption, and that mere fact, greatly influenced his selection for the candidacy.

In October 2018, López Obrador named Luis Cresencio Sandoval Minister of National Defense and José Rafael Ojeda Minister of the Navy. He informed that the decision was backed by the former President, Enrique Peña Nieto, and Vidal Soberón, former head of the Ministry of the Navy.

Mask use in open spaces. AMLO informed that the recommendation regarding the use of masks in outside spaces should be given by the Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell. Since he is responsible for reporting everything concerning the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the last couple of weeks COVID-19 infections in Mexico have been on the decline, averaging 5466 new infections reported every day. Moreover, yesterday the office of the president informed that the country has a high COVID-19 vaccination coverage rate and that the vaccination plan is now in its final stages. According to the Ministry of Health, 186 million doses have been applied to 84 million people, which represents a coverage of 90 percent in adults and 54 percent in people between the ages of 14 and 17. Regarding the booster vaccine, 71 percent of people over 60 years have been vaccinated, 48 percent (ages 40–59) and 62 percent (ages30–39).

Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish