Was President Claudia Sheinbaum’s second State of the Nation report (Informe) an accurate diagnosis of current-day Mexico, or simply a catalog of numbers packaged with ingenious spin, as some critics are claiming?
The picture she painted from the National Palace on September 1 was distinctly upbeat: a robust economy, a strong currency, record foreign investment, steady investment in social welfare, education and health, and promising results in tackling crime. Much of her data is verifiable; nonetheless, she faced plenty of flak from critics who said she cherry-picked statistics, offered no opportunity for rebuttal, and gave an overly optimistic impression of where Mexico stands today.
Sheinbaum opened with a staunch defense of Mexico’s sovereignty, calling it “non-negotiable.” While admitting tensions with the United States, she insisted dialogue was ongoing, but lamented the deaths of 17 Mexican citizens in ICE detention facilities. “Cooperation does not mean subjugation,” she said. “Friendship does not mean renouncing our principles.”
The economic numbers came thick and fast during the 70-minute address. Foreign direct investment reached a record US$35 billion in the first half of the year, Sheinbaum reported. The peso remains strong at around 17 to the dollar. The minimum wage now stands at 9,582 pesos per month, a 154 percent real increase since 2018. Formal sector average wages hit a record 20,212 pesos monthly. The 40-hour workweek was approved to be phased in by 2030.
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