## Ricardo Salinas Pliego to Sue President AMLO; Claims SAT “Fiscal Taliban” Manipulation
Business magnate Ricardo Salinas Pliego announced late on September 26, 2024, that he plans to sue Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), accusing him of breaking a pact concerning alleged unpaid taxes by Grupo Elektra. Salinas Pliego alleges the President lied about the situation and has not honored their agreement.
Salinas Pliego described that over recent years, the Mexican Tax Administration Service (SAT) held several reviews, initially deciding that certain losses were not deductible and required payment. However, a subsequent review in 2013 concluded that those losses could indeed be deducted, but due to changes in the law, the payments were still due.
The head of Grupo Salinas explained that the agreement with AMLO involved their concession that the fiscal losses weren’t deductible, agreeing to pay 7.6 billion pesos, with an initial payment of 2.6 billion pesos and a pending balance of 5 billion pesos. This balance was to be settled following a judicial agreement mediated by the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN).
Salinas Pliego also posted a lengthy message on his social network platform X, expressing confidence that the SCJN would review and rule on the illegitimacy of the double charging and the “enormous and baseless surcharges.”
“It’s deeply disappointing to see lies and deceit lead to such undesirable situations. Honestly, I expected more from Andrés Manuel López Obrador as President. There’s no doubt that poor company has led him astray, endangering all Mexicans,” said Salinas Pliego.
The businessman also accused “close and radical advisors” of obstructing their case from being resolved in the Supreme Court, with mentions of Jesús Ramírez Cuevas from the Communication Office and SAT’s Armando Ramírez Sánchez and Antonio Martínez Dagnino, reportedly placed by AMLO’s son, Andrés Manuel López Beltrán, to “extort entrepreneurs.”
Despite these allegations, Claudia Sheinbaum, President-elect, announced on September 12, 2024, that Antonio Martínez Dagnino would continue as head of the SAT.
Below is the complete statement released by Ricardo Salinas Pliego:
“A half-truth is a lie. Always a lie! And today, as usual, Andrés lied in the morning press conference about what really happened between him and me regarding the alleged ‘unpaid taxes’ by Grupo Elektra.
Andrés is well aware that the SAT intends to charge us twice for the same issue (specifically for the fiscal losses from 2008 to 2012).
First, in various reviews during those years, SAT claimed these losses were not deductible and that we had to pay for them. Then, in a subsequent review in 2013, they changed their stance, stating the losses were deductible, but we still had to pay due to a change in law.
In the face of all these lies and violations, we decided to sue the President, demanding according to the law that he respects our agreement.
We trust the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation to review and rule on the double taxation and enormous, unfounded surcharges.”
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### Secondary Article: Ongoing Disputes Between Major Mexican Business Figures and Government
In recent years, the relationship between Mexican business leaders and the government has been marked by tension and legal battles. Notably, the legal troubles of other major conglomerates have made headlines, reflecting a broader pattern of conflict within the regulatory framework.
For instance, Carlos Slim’s América Móvil has faced scrutiny and regulatory challenges concerning its dominant position in the telecommunications market. The Mexican government has imposed stringent measures to foster competition, leading to multiple legal entanglements for the telecom giant.
Similarly, Bimbo, the world’s largest bread maker, found itself at odds with new tax regulations and compliance standards. The company was forced to reassess its financial strategies and operational methodologies to adhere to the stricter fiscal policies.
These incidents signify an overarching trend where the Mexican government, under AMLO’s administration, has emphasized stringent tax enforcement and regulatory compliance. However, this has spurred increased litigation, as businesses challenge what they perceive as unfair practices and overreach by regulatory bodies.
This growing friction underscores the complex and often contentious interaction between corporate interests and government policies in Mexico, setting the stage for prolonged legal battles and ongoing negotiations.