Return to School/Presidential Plane

Presidential tour. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador outlined his latest travel plans, saying that this weekend he would be starting a new presidential tour through the states of Quintana Roo, Yucatan, Campeche, Chiapas and Tabasco.

Presidential plane going back on auction block. The president said that the government would again resort to auctions to unload governmental aircraft, this time helicopters and airplanes, including the infamous presidential plane that was put up for auction and sale last year but failed to attract a buyer. “It is very luxurious, extravagant and not everyone can pay what it is worth. We cannot keep paying for the cost.” He also said the presidential plane remains in good condition. “It is kept in good condition, well preserved.” AMLO explained that since his government took office, it has cost around MX$110 million (US$5.1 million) to maintain the aircraft. “It costs us much less to have it grounded, keep it and maintain it rather than use it.” Auctions will take place from March 12.

School classes in Campeche? AMLO said that the government is considering Campeche as the first state to go back to regular classes after older adults have been vaccinated against COVID-19. “The proposal is to finish vaccinating older adults and think about returning to face-to-face classes. We have considered that from March 9 to 23 we can finish vaccinating all older adults and leave a few days to start returning around Easter, after Holy Week; that is, in the first days of April.”

López-Gatell recuperating. The president mentioned that the Deputy Minister of Health Hugo López-Gatell is expected to be better by next week after falling ill with the COVID-19 virus. “Of course, he has to be in recovery for a while, that’s what I am also recommending without being a doctor.”

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Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish