Stresses COVID-19 Plans / No Reason to Change Strategy

Responsible approach to COVID-19. Everything Mexico has done in the fight against COVID-19 has proven to be effective and the government will continue moving in the same direction, President López Obrador said after 100,104 deaths and over 1 million cases were reported yesterday by the Minister of Health. “We have done everything and we will continue to do so. Two days ago, we announced a new agreement with private hospitals. The work of doctors and nurses who have risked their lives to save others has been heroic. This is very difficult, a very painful situation, and we are going to continue fulfilling our responsibility,” he said. The president regretted what he called the “buzzard season” during the health contingency, referring to criticism from his adversaries.

No reason to change strategy. The strategy against the COVID-19 pandemic is working and more people have died in nations like Spain, President López Obrador said. “We believe what we are doing is providing good results. It is very unfortunate what has happened and from the beginning, conservatives, our adversaries, wanted to blame us,” he said. Once again, in his daily briefing, López Obrador compared Mexico’s results with those of other countries, especially Spain, “where a lot more citizens have died.” The total number of deaths in Spain is actually more than half the total in Mexico at about 42,000, but the rate per 100,000 population is higher in Spain than in Mexico. The president noted that there is no reason to change the strategy that has been widely criticized by several experts outside his administration. “Why change? Just because those who stole from us don't like what we’re doing, or don’t want to see us in the government?” he questioned.

Revolution anniversary celebration. President López Obrador recalled that today marks the 110th anniversary of the beginning of the Mexican Revolution. “Quite an event. It was the first social revolution of the 20th century in the world. A movement of great significance because the people of Mexico fought for two great demands: justice and democracy,” he said and highlighted that the movement brought very good results for Mexican workers. The president noted that the commemoration would start later today at Revolution Monument with a parade. Officials, soldiers and those working in the COVID-19 pandemic will also receive an award. Later today, López Obrador  will give the National Sports Awards to several athletes and trainers, including a special recognition to former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Fernando Valenzuela. “All this is going to be broadcasted because we cannot summon many citizens, we have to keep a healthy distance,” he said.

Laments Spain’s colonialist zeal. President López Obrador regretted that there are countries that maintain an eagerness for colonialism after the visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Spain Arancha González Laya, who reiterated that there will be no apologies to Mexico regarding Spain’s conquest of the country. “We believe that there were abuses and that time has passed, but there is still this desire for vindication, for justice, for forgiveness, there are countries that still maintain colonialist zeal,” he said after being asked by a reporter in his daily briefing on the issue. In March 2019, López Obrador sent a letter to the King of Spain Felipe VI and Pope Francis asking them to apologize to the original peoples of Mexico in 2021, for atrocities committed during the conquest and the evangelization. López Obrador said that he respects the position of Spain, but criticized the colonialist zeal of the European nation, citing an article in the Spanish newspaper El País that criticized his handling of the pandemic.

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Click HERE for full transcript in Spanish