María Amparo Casar's Pension Scandal / Energy Blackout Updates

María Amparo Casar’s Case. President López Obrador addressed the case of María Amparo Casar. He condemned her for receiving a pension under false pretenses as a dishonest and vile act of corruption. He emphasized that the government would not stand as an accomplice or cover-up for corruption. 

Elizabeth García, Director of Networks, General Coordination of Social Communication and Presidency Spokesperson, revealed that María Amparo Casar, Head, Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity, a civil organization, had wrongly received a pension from PEMEX totaling US$2.8 million over 20 years. Following her husband's death by suicide at PEMEX in 2004, initially labeled as a work accident but later determined as suicide, her pension was revoked. This sparked direct attacks against López Obrador, implying it was a case of influence peddling.

Transgenic Corn. López Obrador said CONAHCYT is analyzing genetically modified corn and stated that imported yellow corn cannot be used for domestic consumption. He also addressed USMCA panels to resolve discrepancies regarding corn. He reaffirmed that Mexico will maintain its decree against using transgenics for human consumption.

Oil and Gas Reservoirs. López Obrador highlighted the oil and gas reservoir in Ixachi, Tierra Blanca, Veracruz, as a vast reserve thanks to exploration efforts during his administration. He stated that only what is needed for domestic consumption will be extracted, preserving it as a legacy for future generations. Learning from Cantarell, Campeche, where depletion occurred, conscious use is ensured to prevent the same fate. He guaranteed that the next government will not face oil shortages.

IMSS-Bienestar. Regarding the healthcare system, López Obrador expressed his commitment to have the entire public health system fully operational before his term ends. Starting May 13, he will begin a tour across the 23 member states of IMSS-Bienestar to oversee the health model's reinforcement stage. A white flag will be raised in each state, signifying that it's operating at full capacity.

León Trauwitz Extradition. Regarding Eduardo León Trauwitz’s extradition from Canada, Former Deputy Director of Strategic Safeguarding (SSE), PEMEX, López Obrador stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is reviewing the matter. He explained that Trauwitz has the right to prove his innocence within a 30-day period. López Obrador also emphasized continued efforts regarding Tomás Zerón's case in Israel and other extradition requests related to the Ayotzinapa case in the United States.

Energy Blackouts. López Obrador explained that power outages occurred in various parts of the country due to intense heat nationwide. The National Center for Energy Control (CENACE), responsible for energy distribution, activated alarms briefly, resulting in temporary outages, not affecting the entire country. Service was subsequently restored. Vigilance continues amid the situation. Despite the incident, the energy generation capacity remains intact. A meeting will be held today to address the situation, as half of the electricity generation comes from private companies. An agreement must be reached to ensure that power plants are in good condition.