KEYPOINTS OF PRESIDENT ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR’S MORNING PRESS CONFERENCE

May 3-9, 2023

Political Agenda

• Plan B: Regarding the SCJN’s resolution on Plan B in electoral matters, the federal president pointed out that the Judicial Power “is rotten, it has no remedy”, he referred that the ministers of the Court decided that an Initiative is not valid due to the violation of internal rules that the legislative power, he indicated that there were no such violations, however, in an act of authoritarianism the Court. He mentioned that it is necessary to achieve a qualified majority in the Congress in order to reform the Constitution, he pointed out that this is Plan C. He asked for an “even vote” for the presidential and legislative elections. He announced that, in September, he will send to the Congress of the Union at least three constitutional reforms, one of them so that the people may elect the ministers of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, another one to raise to constitutional rank the support for people with disabilities, among other issues.

• Science and Humanities Law: In the case of the Science and Humanities Law, it was indicated that it is false that CONACYT will be eliminated, since Maria Elena Alvarez Bulla, director of the Council, already clarified that the organization is only being transformed to strengthen its capacities. In ad- dition, Maria Elena Alvarez Bulla commented that private companies would receive up to 2,667 million pesos to subsidize and magnify their profits under the pretext of innovation. Through CONACYT there were not only deviations for economic purposes, but also political ones. Among them stand out Mario Amparo Casar, Sergio Lopez Ayllon, Mexico Evalua, Mexicanos Unidos Contra la Corrupcion, INAI, INE, and even the SCJN.

• Mining Law: In a press conference, Ana Elizabeth Garcia Vilchis clarified that it is false that the legislative process developed in the closing of the ordinary period of sessions of the Congress of the Union was illegal. Regarding the new Mining Law, it was considered that it does not put the sector at risk, since the reform seeks to guarantee the sustainable exercise of the activity in Mexico, prioritizing indigenous communities and water for human supply.

Bilateral Relationship

• USAID: In the section Who’s Who in Lies, an analysis was presented on the intervention of the U.S. administration through USAID. In this regard, they commented that on May 1st, the newspaper Milenio published that such agency sent to the U.S. Con-

KEYPOINTS OF PRESIDENT ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR’S MORNING PRESS CONFERENCE

gress a fund to manage governance issues, considering that the administration of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has affected Non-Governmental Organizations. He pointed out that USAID’s funding of opposition groups is an act of interventionism. For this reason, President Lopez Obrador expressed his regret due to the friendly relations with President Joe Biden, and sent a letter to address this issue, recognizing the work done by Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, advisor to the U.S. presidency, but denouncing the operation of the U.S. agency.

• United States: The President called on U.S. Republican Party governors and legislators to make a proposal “so that guns are no longer sold in supermarkets”. He said that this would be a good initiative so that there would no longer be shootings. He questioned the anti-immigration measures adopted by the governor of Florida, who is seeking to become a Republican candidate for the U.S. presidency.

• Migration: The Mexican government has been able to establish legal mechanisms so that migrants can arrive in the United States in an orderly, safe and humane manner, preventing them from being victims of insecurity and abuse. Between 2022 and this year, approximately 885,000 work and family reunification visas and permits will be issued to migrants from Central and South American and Caribbean countries. President Lopez Obrador has included these countries in his immigration policy and has promoted working groups with the United States. The Mexican government is investing around $150 million dollars in Central America and the Caribbean, through Sembrando Vida and Jovenes Construyendo el Futuro, to create conditions of stability and solve migration in a structural manner. The president criticizes the fact that so many resources continue to be given to NGOs, as he considers that these associations do not provide support to the people, and promotes programs and direct support with immediate results. In Mexico, migrants are received and cared for, but legal migration procedures must be carried out in their own country.

• Fentanyl: President Lopez Obrador had a meeting with U.S. legislators from both parties, in which they asked Mexico to intervene with the Government of China to stop the shipment of fentanyl. In response, the Chinese Government argued that they do not export this substance, but in case Mexico identified it, they would appreciate the information. Recently, a contaminated container of fentanyl and methamphetamines was detected, and President Lopez Obrador is going to send this information to the Chinese government, reiterating the request. In addition, the President criticized

Keypoints Of President

ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADOR’S MORNING PRESS CONFERENCE

the manipulation of the U.S. media and some legislators who claim that migrants are the ones trafficking drugs into the U.S., which will be refuted with facts and official information.

• Relationship with the United States: President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador indicated that the relationship with the government of President Joe Biden is good because it is very respectful of Mexican sovereignty. However, there are certain policies that are very interfering, which is why he appreciates the agreements that have been reached, for example, on immigration matters, as fundamental. In this regard, the U.S. president recognized that the challenge could not be dealt with solely through the use of force; likewise, the U.S. president recognized Hispanics for their contribution to the development of the United States. This has translated into few problems of interventionism during the current administration.

Economy

• Economy: The President noted that Mexico served as the leading economic trading partner of the United States in the first quarter of 2023. He noted that Mexico’s economy is growing at more than 3%. The President added that Mexico is currently one of the countries with the lowest unemployment, and that the Mexican peso is the currency that has strengthened the most against the dollar.

• Remittances: Ricardo Sheffield, Federal Consumer Attorney, indicated that in March 2023, 5,193.8 million dollars in remittances were received, which means 10.68% more than in March 2022 and 24.93% more than in the same period of 2021.

Infraestructure

• Tren Maya: Section 4 of the Tren Maya, which connects Izamal with Cancun, has 90% construction progress, with 120 km of track completed. A total of 62,000 jobs have been created and significant progress has been made in the construction of crosswalks and road distributors. The first convoy will arrive in Mexico on July 8 and the operation of the train will be monitored through the HealthHub system. In terms of archaeological salvage, more than 4,200 pieces of real estate and 570 pieces of movable property have been recovered. The Tren Maya Hotel will be completed in November 2023 and 270 jobs have been generated. The Youth Building the Future Program has invested 4,448 million pesos to benefit 44,699 young people in the area of the Mayan Train. The President emphasized that the project will generate development in the southeast of the country thanks to the tourism that will come to the area and that technical schools are developing careers related to the railroad to offer employment to young people. In addition, it is expected that the Mayan Train will be profitable in 6 years and that it will benefit the inhabitants of the area with special rates. The train infrastructure will also be used to transport cargo and supply fuel to the Yucatan peninsula.