Flights Crisis/Presidential Ceremony in Nicaragua

AMLO will be tested for COVID-19. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced that he woke up with hoarseness. He will be tested for COVID-19 to make sure he does not have the virus. “I woke up hoarse and felt a little sick. It is most likely a cold but I want to get tested anyway, to be sure."

According to the World for Sharing All Data on Influenza (GISAID), Mexico is the Latin American country with the most Omicron infections. Last week, the country registered 374 positive cases, ranking 23rd out of 94 countries listed by GISAID. The states that have reported the highest number of infections are Quintana Roo, Jalisco, Puebla, Guanajuato and Sonora. Last week, López Obrador ruled out that the country would go through a fourth wave of infections. However, experts said that Omicron will hit the country and will become the predominant variant.

Aeroméxico canceled 260 flights. Head of the Federal Consumer Protection Office Ricardo Sheffield reported that the Mexican airline Aeroméxico canceled 260 flights in recent days due to the increase in COVID-19 cases among its crew members. Sheffield said the situation has been resolved; however, passengers remain dissatisfied. “Several flights were canceled because the Benito Juárez airport is Aeroméxico's base of operations and there have been many infections. The passengers were very angry with what happened but have not yet reported the airline. Passengers do not have a claims culture."

More than 70 pilots and 140 flight attendants of Aeroméxico tested positive for COVID-19 last week. The situation has been linked to the increase in Omicron cases in Mexico. José Suárez, Press Secretary for the Pilots Association, said the variant had a domino effect on the airline's workers, forcing the company to isolate entire crews to control the spread of the virus. The airline announced that the cancellation of flights is due to a lack of personnel and to guarantee the safety of users, which is its priority.

AMLO will visit Central American countries. López Obrador announced that he plans to visit Central America and especially Honduras, where Xiomara Castro was recently elected president. López Obrador said that he has only left the country three times since he was sworn in, all to US. Now, he wants to go to the other side of the continent. “We are very happy with Castro's triumph in Honduras. It is very likely that if she comes to Mexico she will be very well received. I am thinking of visiting Central America this year. I still do not have the dates defined but I do intend to go."

López Obrador said that the visit to Central America seeks to strengthen the country's relationship with the region, since past governments neglected these countries. In addition, the government announced that new ambassadors and consuls will be appointed next week. The elected people will meet with López Obrador to agree on the country’s foreign policy. Additionally, Castro is expected to meet with López Obrador in Mexico City on Jan. 15 to discuss migration and poverty issues.

Presidential ceremony in Nicaragua. López Obrador said that despite the controversy generated by Daniel Ortega's presidential ceremony in Nicaragua, a representative from Mexico will be sent as it would be unwise not to attend. “We have good relationships with everyone and we do not want to be reckless. Yes, it would be reckless because we cannot put aside our policy of self-determination and independence. We must always respect it.” López Obrador announced that he would try to attend the event. However, if this is not possible, Ramiro Ayala, Head of the Chancellery of Mexico in Nicaragua, will attend.

Today, Ortega will be recognized as the re-elected president of Nicaragua for the fourth time, making this his fifth five-year term. The elections have been widely criticized for the lack of democracy and have therefore been condemned internationally. Previously, Mexico had announced that it would not send a representative despite being on the list of delegations that would attend, along with Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Turkey, Venezuela, China, Vietnam, North Korea, among other countries. However, the government decided otherwise. Ortega is a former guerrilla leader who has governed Nicaragua since 2007. He has been accused of sending his rivals into exile or prison, in addition to repressing the political rights of Nicaraguans.

Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish