### Failure to Combat Corruption
As the administration of Andrés Manuel López Obrador draws to a close, with Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo poised to take over, it is evident that the outgoing president has not fulfilled his promise to combat corruption. On the contrary, his tenure has seen attempts to dismantle various independent institutions established by previous governments to fight corruption.
The National Anti-Corruption System remains fragmented both at the national and state levels, with few notable cases of anti-corruption prosecutors taking the lead in investigations. Additionally, there have been efforts to dissolve the National Institute for Transparency, Access to Information, and Protection of Personal Data (INAI), an essential tool for ensuring government transparency in Mexico.
Initially, López Obrador’s administration showed promise with the arrest of high-profile political figures such as Rosario Robles, Juan Collado, and Emilio Lozoya. However, these cases did not yield significant results, often due to poorly constructed legal cases or sluggish judicial processes.
Despite claiming to epitomize an honest government that would bring corrupt officials to justice, López Obrador’s actions increasingly appeared to be mere rhetoric aimed at gaining power. By the end of his term, individuals accused of being part of the “power mafia” had regained their freedom.
While programs like the 2020-2024 Public Administration Sectoral Program and the 2019-2024 National Program to Combat Corruption and Impunity appeared to be significant steps, more than 70% of their reforms and 10 proposed laws were never implemented, according to institutions like the Institute for Training in Justice and Human Rights and civil organizations like Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity.
López Obrador focused his punitive efforts on the judiciary, targeting judges and magistrates who did not comply with his directives rather than addressing true cases of corruption. His administration ignored several significant corruption scandals, including the misuse of funds in the “Sembrando Vidas” program, the “Gray House” linked to his son, a considerable fraud case involving the Food Security program (Segalmex), and the favoritism shown within the Federal Electricity Commission in favor of relatives of Manuel Bartlett.
Major corruption issues from the previous administration, such as the violent events in Culiacán and the misuse of authority by the federal prosecutor Alejandro Gertz Manero, were similarly overlooked.
In summary, López Obrador’s presidency, while marked by promises of integrity and anti-corruption, ultimately left Mexican citizens without meaningful justice. The administration failed to lay the foundations for robust institutions capable of eradicating corruption, indicating a profound gap between its promises and actions.
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### Secondary Article: Major Concerns Amidst Pérez Administration Transition
As Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo prepares to ascend to the Mexican presidency, shadows of concern loom over the administrative transition. Among the most critical issues is the stagnant fight against corruption, which observers fear may continue, leaving the nation vulnerable to the same misconduct that plagued previous administrations.
A recent debate has centered around the potential implications for the judicial reform initiated under López Obrador. Critics argue that the reform, necessary for rectifying systematic corruption within the judiciary, instead served as a tool for political leverage rather than genuine change.
Furthermore, accusations about biases in the handling of public funds and favoritism toward business entities with connections to the administration spell trouble. The incoming administration inherits a complex landscape fraught with potential conflicts of interest.
Transparency organizations voice concern that Sheinbaum’s administration must address these legacy issues head-on, implementing more stringent anti-corruption measures and ensuring that existing laws are robustly enforced. Commentators also underscore the importance of maintaining independent institutional checks on executive power to restore public trust in government.
The spotlight now rests on Sheinbaum to undertake reforms that will decisively break from past practices and ensure accountability, thus steering Mexico toward a future of clearer governance and public integrity.