Mexico’s Ex-President Felipe Calderón Called a “murderer” in France

ByIrving Sanchez

This article by Irving Sanchez originally appeared in the January 29, 2026 edition of Sin Línea.

Former Mexican President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa was confronted by students during an academic talk at the Paris Institute of Political Studies, one of Europe ‘s most prestigious universities . The incident was captured on video and widely shared on social media, generating reactions and reigniting the controversy surrounding his presidential legacy.

It all happened when he attended as a speaker on a panel entitled Wanted: A UN Secretary-General for a Broken World, focused on the global challenges of international governance; however, his speech was interrupted when a group of young people stood up from the auditorium to chant slogans against him, which caused tension among the attendees.

In response to the protest, the event moderator intervened to remind everyone that the institute is a pluralistic space where the free expression of ideas is permitted, even those that may be uncomfortable for the guests. During the incident, Felipe Calderón Hinojosa remained silent, with a serious expression, without directly responding to the accusations and allowing the event to continue after the interruption.

The confrontation in Paris was directly linked to decisions made during Felipe Calderón ‘s presidency, particularly the security strategy he initiated in December 2006 with the deployment of armed forces to combat organized crime. This policy marked the beginning of a period of violence that profoundly transformed the security landscape in Mexico.

Various official reports indicate that during his administration there was a significant increase in intentional homicides. The most critical point was reached in 2011, when more than 27,000 murders were reported , with a rate exceeding 24 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants. Overall, the cumulative figures for his six-year term exceeded 120,000 homicides, representing an increase of approximately 140 percent compared to the previous presidential term.

This incident in France adds to other similar situations Felipe Calderón Hinojosa has faced abroad. In December 2024, during a forum in Madrid, Spain, he was confronted by a woman from Ciudad Juárez who blamed him for the violence unleashed during his administration, an incident that was also documented and shared on social media.

Following the release of the video of the incident in Paris , the conversation moved to social media , where numerous users reacted with criticism and derogatory comments towards the former president.