No Extra Funds for INE/Economic Activities Continue

No added budget for INE. Minister of the Interior (SEGOB) Adán Augusto López clarified that there is no margin in the Federal Public Budget to grant more resources to the National Electoral Institute (INE) to carry out the Mandate Revocation consultation. “There is no way that we are going to reduce health budgets or that for the elderly, for example. All items of the Expenditure Budget 2022 were reviewed and we raised that proposal, that analysis so that they could review it and, in any case, apply austerity measures or budget adjustments that would allow enough money to carry out the Revocation of Mandate.” He also mentioned that this consultation is not up for discussion. “It will happen because it is also a democratic exercise.”

The so-called Revocation of Mandate is a Constitutional lever for citizens to decide whether to remove an elected official, including the president. López Obrador himself has insisted on the vote in April, declaring he would leave office if the vote went against him. His critics say the move is an attempt to solidify his power. INE has said it does not have sufficient funds to organize the vote.

Mexican economy. Augusto López said that despite the rise in COVID-19 cases in Mexico, economic activities would continue. “We believe that despite the increase in cases in the pandemic, economic activity is going to be maintained and there will be no economic slowdown. Fortunately, the constant of this variant is very little percentage increase in terms of the number of hospitalized and also mortality is reduced with this variant.” Augusto López also clarified that the COVID-19 permit only includes seven days of approved absence from work. However, if workers continue to present symptoms, they can consult a doctor to extend the period according to their specific case.

Mexico ranks 16th in the world for the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections and is fifth regarding the number of deaths from the virus, behind the US, Brazil, India and Russia. Despite the figures, there has been no change in sanitary restrictions.

AMLO. Augusto López reiterated that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador was recovering favorably since contracting COVID-19. “The president is doing very well. He is evolving favorably. Yesterday, the mild symptoms he had manifested were already much less and he is coordinating (government) work.”

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Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish