GDP surprise / Ebrard rules out pressure from US

GDP deceleration less than expected. After INEGI announced a 1.6 percent deceleration in the country's GDP in Q1, President López Obrador said that fortunately the drop was not as deep as projected. “Some predicted that the drop would be greater and fortunately it was not,” he said. López Obrador warned, however, that Q2 would be more difficult for the economy due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that Mexico has a strategy to overcome the crisis and prevent greater damage.

Ebrard rules out US pressure. Questioned about a letter that US senators sent to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo urging him to pressure Mexico to reactivate non-essential activities, Minister of Foreign Affairs (SRE) Marcelo Ebrard said Mexico follows its own agenda. “This is not a bilateral issue since there has not been any contact with the secretary of state,” he said. Ebrard highlighted that the priority now is health. “The stages set are clear. This is what the president has said and Mexico is going to follow this agenda,” Ebrard said.

Program for health workers. To support health workers who are on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic, universities and the private sector have launched a new program called Together for Health, Minister of Foreign Affairs (SRE) Marcelo Ebrard reported. So far, the joint effort has raised MX$900 million, which will be used to distribute 340,000 safety kits among health personnel. “We will share a weekly report on the progress of the program,” Ebrard said and invited everyone to support the program through donations. 

Applauds Labor Reform. President López Obrador applauded the approval of the Labor Reform in the Senate, calling it an important step to guarantee workers’ rights to choose their union leaders. He stressed that this reform fulfills all commitments related to the signing of the USMCA trade treaty. The president said that during tomorrow’s Labor Day celebrations he would meet with union leaders to reaffirm his government's commitment to workers.

Calls on legislators to support austerity law. President López Obrador said he trusts legislators will approve the proposed austerity law that bans luxury spending by the government. The president stressed that even without this constitutional reform, measures have already been taken to significantly reduce government spending.

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Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish