Carlos Manuel Alvarez

Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, President of Mexico, disclosed her financial assets and potential conflicts of interest through the DeclaraNet system. She reported a net monthly salary of 134,290 pesos, ownership of an 88-square-meter apartment in Tlalpan, CDMX, valued at 2.75 million pesos, and a 2013 Chevrolet Aveo. She holds shares in Eli Cami y Cía. and Sintacrom de México but receives no remuneration. Her bank accounts are with BBVA Bancomer. Sheinbaum holds a doctorate from UNAM and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. She declared no involvement in decision-making for any company or political party.

Authorities in Cuernavaca arrested an alleged leader of La Familia Michoacana and the son of a former Morena deputy. The suspects, identified as Jaime “N” and Ricardo “N”, were apprehended following reports of attempted extortion and possession of firearms. Ricardo “N”, also known as “El Richi”, is the son of Macrina Vallejo Bello, a former local deputy. The operation, conducted by SEPRAC and the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional, resulted in the seizure of weapons and the involvement of the Fiscalía General de la República. Allegations surfaced regarding protection provided by Uriel Carmona Gándara, the head of the Fiscalía General del Estado de Morelos.

The Mexican Defense Ministry, led by Ricardo Trevilla Trejo, has dismissed any potential threats or risks to former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's security. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the current president, acknowledged that López Obrador had a minimal security detail at his residence in Palenque, Chiapas, provided by the Defense Ministry. The ministry emphasized that security personnel are assigned to all former presidents and certain officials, denying any specific threats. El Universal reported that the military reserved security details for five years to prevent potential threats from organized crime, highlighting the importance of discretion in such matters.

Joe Biden expressed hope that Donald Trump would reconsider imposing tariffs on Mexico and Canada, warning it could harm relations with close allies. Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico's Secretary of Economy, indicated that Mexico has a proposal ready for negotiation with Trump's team, emphasizing the importance of dialogue. Ebrard noted that Trump's tariff threats are part of his negotiation style, similar to past instances. Mexico remains firm on not accepting anything that compromises its sovereignty, awaiting further instructions from President Sheinbaum Pardo to proceed with negotiations.

The Mexican Senate's joint committees approved a reform to dissolve several autonomous constitutional bodies, transferring their functions to various government ministries. The reform, supported by Morena, Partido del Trabajo, and Partido Verde Ecologista, faced opposition from Acción Nacional, Revolucionarios Institucional, and Movimiento Ciudadano. Key institutions affected include the Instituto Nacional de Transparencia and the Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica. The reform aims to streamline government functions but has sparked debate over its impact on citizens' rights and economic interests.

Following a massacre at the 'Dbar' in Villahermosa, Tabasco, which resulted in seven deaths and at least ten injuries, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo announced a special strategy to combat violence in the region. The strategy involves close coordination between federal and state security officials, including Omar Hamida García Harfuch and Governor Javier May Rodríguez. The attack at the bar and a separate incident at a wedding in Jalapa, where a person was killed, were targeted actions by organized crime, according to the Fiscalía General del Estado.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed a desire for Canada to remain in the USMCA trade agreement with the United States and Mexico, contingent on decisions made by the Mexican government under President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. Trudeau emphasized the importance of the agreement for Canadian jobs and growth but acknowledged the possibility of exploring other options. Mexican Secretary of Economy Marcelo Ebrard mentioned that formal discussions for the next USMCA review might begin in February 2025, highlighting the integration of Mexican exports with U.S. companies. Ebrard also discussed the absence of certain regulatory bodies in the U.S. and the need for harmonization between the two countries.

Alejandro Ismael Murat Hinojosa attempted to attend a press conference held by Xóchitl Gálvez Ruiz to demand a right of reply against accusations made by her. He was denied entry, with Gálvez's team planning to file a complaint against him for alleged fraud during his tenure at Infonavit. Gálvez accused Murat and Morena of electoral manipulation in the upcoming elections. She defended her social programs and criticized Claudia Sheinbaum's lack of social experience in Oaxaca.

The Instituto Nacional de Migración (INM) reported providing comprehensive support, including compensation, to the families of victims of a fire at a provisional station in Ciudad Juárez that resulted in 40 migrant deaths and 28 injuries. Despite this, the INM did not acknowledge its own responsibility or that of its agents, who abandoned the migrants during the fire. Investigations by the Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos and the Fiscalía General de la República are ongoing, with Francisco Garduño Yáñez implicated. The INM has made several changes to improve safety and infrastructure in its facilities, but criticism persists regarding the lack of accountability and structural changes in Mexico's migration policy.

The General Council of the National Electoral Institute (INE) unanimously approved the appointment of journalists Adriana Pérez Cañedo and Alejandro Cacho as moderators for the second presidential debate, scheduled for April 28, 2024. The debate will cover topics such as economic growth, employment, inflation, infrastructure, development, poverty, inequality, and climate change. The decision faced criticism from PT representative José Gerardo Rodolfo Fernández Noroña, who labeled the moderators as 'right-wing,' while Morena's representative Mario Rafael Llergo Latournerie reiterated his request to remove the moderator of the first debate. PRD representative Guadalupe Acosta Naranjo supported the moderators for the second debate.