Reaction to Mexico’s UN Win / Call to Disband CONAPRED

Reaction to UN’s nomination. Minister of Foreign Affairs (SRE) Marcelo Ebrard said that it is a great honor for Mexico to be part of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, after winning 187 votes on Wednesday to become a nonpermanent member of the council. “This allows Mexico to propose worldwide, at the highest government body, peaceful resolutions for controversies and gender issues, social inequality and poverty that has worsened after COVID-19,” Ebrard said. The Chancellor highlighted that the UN’s decision is a recognition of President López Obrador’s ideals.  

Three points to guide UN function. President López Obrador thanked all countries for electing Mexico to the UN Security Council and read a document outlining the three basic points his government will promote. First, the four fundamental rights proclaimed by former US President Franklin D. Roosevelt. “The right to freedom of speech, the right to freedom of worship, the right to live without fear, and the right to live free of misery,” he said. Second, promoting cooperation for sustainable development and third, a commitment to nonviolent conflict resolution. “Guided by the principle of President Benito Juárez that between individuals as between nations, respect for the rights of others is peace,” he said.

Calls to disband CONAPRED. President López Obrador again criticized autonomous organizations that he said only serve corrupt purposes, since the people have never received any benefit from offices like the Federal Telecommunications Institute (ITF) or the National Council to Prevent Discrimination (CONAPRED) among many others. He lamented the proliferation of autonomous offices that "tolerated looting and corruption". On Wednesday, López Obrador said he was not aware of CONAPRED’s existence. He added that the Ministry of Interior (Segob) could take care of all CONAPRED’s functions.

Applauds extraordinary session. President López Obrador praised the decision to call for an extraordinary session in the Senate, where two major initiatives will be discussed. He explained that besides adapting the legal framework for the entry into force of the USMCA trade treaty, the government will insist on budget adjustments to concentrate all ministry trusts under the scope of the Ministry of Finance (SHCP).

Asks for IMSS investigation. President López Obrador asked IMSS head Zoé Robledo, who is isolated after testing positive for COVID-19, to report on contracts awarded to four companies under investigation for monopolistic practices. “(Robledo) is isolated now but is very actively working, so we are going to ask him for information to clarify this,” he replied when asked about the issue during his daily briefing in Hidalgo.

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Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish