Revocation of mandate promotion/Oil prices irregularities

AMLO defends Head of the Interior Ministry. President López Obrador backed Adán Augusto López, Head of the Interior Ministry (SEGOB), after being accused of promoting the referendum for the revocation of mandate and using the National Guard’s plane to this end.

Augusto López participated in public events in Sonora and Coahuila to promote the revocation and criticize the National Electoral Institute (INE), López Obrador assured that the official visits to those entities are part of his job.

Moreover, yesterday a protest against the referendum took place in Mexico City. AMLO said there was a significant amount of people and made fun of the attendants.

The president has constantly promoted the revocation of mandate referendum and has accused the INE of not promoting it enough. The voting consultation is schedule for April 10. López Obrador said he ends up promoting this referendum because according to him the INE is not doing its job and is even allocating fewer resources than those established by law. For its part, INE said it is doing everything necessary to guarantee that citizens vote. However, INE has made some notable spending cuts since it does not have enough financial due to the its 2022 budget cuts. Regarding the accusations of not promoting the referendum, INE said the president´s statements were not true and that discussion forums will be held at the national level to inform the population about the referendum.

Oil prices irregularities. The Federal Consumer Attorney Office (PROFECO) informed about the detection of a total of nine gas stations with irregularities and said that Shell sold Premium gas for MX$26.99 (US$1.37) per liter in Mexico City. Surit Berenice Romero, Deputy Attorney of PROFECO, mentioned that the average price in the country for oil is MX$25.36 (US$1.28) per liter.

Last week, AMLO reported Mexico City is where the majority of oil price gouging occurs in gas stations and said he is in talks with Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico City’s Major, to take care of the situation. President López Obrador mentioned that the federal government is doing a great effort for fuel prices not to increase and called gas stations not to take advantage of consumers.

Playa del Carmen properties. AMLO said Mexico´s government has offered to buy property land from company Legacy Vulcan in Playa del Carmen and build a natural park avoiding to damage the soil and the environment. AMLO is looking to negotiate with the enterprise to change the concession permit and construct a pier for cruises. The land is 2,400 hectares and has a pier that could be used as tourist center, for which the government would help grant operation permits.

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