People’s Mañanera July 17

ByPedro Gellert

Every day, President Claudia Sheinbaum gives a morning presidential press conference and Mexico Solidarity Media posts English language summaries, translated by Mexico Solidarity’s Pedro Gellert. Previous press conference summaries are available here.

Shared Prosperity for Quintana Roo
Governor Mara Lezama highlighted that between 2022 and 2024, 174,000 residents of Quintana Roo rose out of poverty, while the state consolidated sound finances, more than 527,000 formal jobs, and maintains an unemployment rate of 2.6%. It is also advancing with strategic works such as hospitals, 53,000 Bienestar homes under construction, and projects that drive development with social justice.

The Security Strategy Is Delivering Results
Between September 2024 and June 2026, Quintana Roo reduced its daily average of intentional homicides by 85%. President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized that these advances are the result of coordination among institutions: “Quintana Roo is one of the states of the Republic that has had the greatest decrease in intentional homicides and high-impact crimes.”

Mexico Strengthens Tourism With Public Access and Beach Protection
Mexico has received 42 million visitors so far this year and, despite the global reduction in flights, was the country with the smallest drop in air arrivals. In addition, the President presented Tulum Renace, a plan that guarantees free public access to the beaches, free entry to Jaguar Park for national visitors, and a comprehensive program against sargassum to protect the beaches and reefs and strengthen tourism.

Ernesto Ruffo Appel Arrested for Alleged Fuel Smuggling
Claudia Sheinbaum reported that the arrest of the PAN former governor Ruffo Appel for fuel smuggling stemmed from an investigation begun more than a year ago. She explained that Ruffo is a partner in one of the companies under investigation and noted that Felipe Calderón is now coming to his defense, despite having publicly questioned him in 2017 over alleged acts of corruption.

She also responded to the statement in his defense by Somos México, of whose Council Ruffo is a member, by pointing out that the evidence presented by the FGR must first be known before turning a judicial investigation into a political defense.

Mexico Defends Cooperation Without Politicizing Security
Mexico will not take part in the summit convened by the United States on so-called “extreme left-wing political terrorism,” considering that “Political matters do not have to become security matters, unless there is a crime to prosecute.”

She reiterated that Mexico maintains international cooperation when there are legitimate security objectives, and announced that the Foreign Ministry will report on the steps taken with US authorities to protect the rights of migrants.