In a week marked by political reflection and public scrutiny, Mexico’s leadership found itself under the spotlight, as President Claudia Sheinbaum and Querétaro’s governor, Mauricio Kuri González, navigated the complexities of governance, disaster response, and party politics. The events, unfolding between October 17 and 20, 2025, highlighted not only the challenges of leadership in turbulent times but also the intricate dance between national and local authorities, and the ever-present specter of political legacy.
On October 19, 2025, Mauricio Kuri González, the governor of Querétaro, took a moment to publicly commend President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo for her performance as the nation’s leader. According to Amanecer Querétaro, Kuri described Sheinbaum as “an exceptional woman” who is “doing a very good job” at the helm of the country. He didn’t mince words in his praise, emphasizing her dedication and commitment to finding what’s best for Mexico. Yet, in the same breath, Kuri drew a firm line between Sheinbaum’s leadership and the party she represents, Morena, stating, “For me, Morena is the same as the past.”
Despite his admiration for the president, Kuri’s stance on party politics was unequivocal. He reaffirmed his allegiance to the National Action Party (PAN), expressing confidence that PAN would continue to govern Querétaro after the 2027 elections. “I am a PAN member and I will hand over this government to a PAN figure,” he declared, underscoring his commitment to delivering positive results and ensuring that the party puts forth its best candidates. Kuri stressed that the continuity of PAN’s leadership in Querétaro hinges on the quality of work his administration delivers and the trust it maintains with the public. “The party must send its best militants and candidates to keep Querétaro as the national example,” he insisted.
Against this backdrop of political affirmation, President Claudia Sheinbaum was herself engaged in direct dialogue with citizens, demonstrating a hands-on approach that has become a hallmark of her administration. On October 20, as reported by Infobae, Sheinbaum recounted an encounter in Tianguistengo, a municipality battered by recent rains. During a supervision tour, a resident shouted that authorities “were doing nothing.” Rather than ignore the criticism, Sheinbaum ordered her vehicle stopped to address the man personally. The resident’s frustration, it turned out, was directed at the local mayor’s perceived inaction.
Sheinbaum explained to the citizen that municipal presidents are chosen by the people, not appointed by the federal government. “I told him, ‘Yes, but you also need to pay attention to whom you vote for,’” she recalled during her morning press conference. She clarified that Tianguistengo is governed by a Morena-backed mayor, but insisted her remarks were not politically motivated. Instead, she accused detractors of twisting the exchange to suggest she was campaigning or promoting her party. “It is very petty, very mean to be pointing out and distorting the information,” Sheinbaum said, defending the integrity of her government’s actions.
Sheinbaum went on to emphasize that federal assistance to communities affected by natural disasters is provided without partisan bias. “Our administration prioritizes helping those affected and ensuring resources reach those most in need,” she stated, highlighting ongoing cooperation between federal and state agencies. She also reiterated that her government respects local authorities, regardless of political affiliation, and that the ultimate goal is the welfare of the people, not electoral gain.
But the week’s political discourse was not limited to current officeholders. The shadow of past administrations and the question of political affiliations resurfaced in a controversy involving José María Tapia, former director of the National Disaster Fund (Fonden) during Enrique Peña Nieto’s presidency. As reported by various sources, including a detailed piece on October 17, 2025, Tapia’s party allegiance became a matter of public debate. Morena, the ruling party, denied that Tapia was a member, even though he had been promoted by then-candidate Sheinbaum in 2024 for the mayoralty of Querétaro.
Luisa María Alcalde, Morena’s national leader, clarified that Tapia was affiliated with the Green Party, a coalition ally, but not with Morena itself. The Green Party, for its part, also distanced itself from Tapia, stating that while he was their coalition’s candidate, he was not a party member. This back-and-forth underscored the sometimes-blurry lines of party allegiance in Mexican politics, particularly within coalition arrangements.
President Sheinbaum, reflecting on Tapia’s candidacy, acknowledged that the vetting process for candidates needed to be more rigorous. “I think it’s good that the current leadership of Morena decided that people who join should be reviewed in more detail, and that it’s no longer just the decision of the president, the secretary general, or just the executive committee, but a commission that analyzes who can be a candidate for Morena or its coalitions,” she commented during a press conference. She welcomed the recent establishment of an Evaluation Commission within Morena to scrutinize new entrants and candidates, suggesting that such oversight would help prevent questionable appointments in the future.
Sheinbaum also took the opportunity to defend the controversial dissolution of Fonden, the disaster relief fund Tapia once led. She argued that the fund had been riddled with corruption, promising to present a report on its irregularities—including dubious emergency declarations for heat waves—in her upcoming morning briefing. The president’s stance was bolstered by investigative findings from Mexicanos Contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad (MCCI), which revealed that in 2020, Tapia had been awarded a 1.35 billion peso contract by the Ministry of Defense for ventilators and had acquired a luxury apartment valued at $6.5 million USD (over 100 million pesos).
These revelations added fuel to the debate over the integrity of public officials and the importance of transparency in government contracts and candidate selection. The controversy also illuminated the challenges facing Mexico’s political parties as they seek to balance coalition-building with rigorous standards for membership and candidacy.
As the week drew to a close, the interplay between national leadership, local governance, and party politics remained at the forefront of public conversation. President Sheinbaum’s direct engagement with citizens, Governor Kuri’s measured praise and party loyalty, and the ongoing scrutiny of political affiliations and past corruption all combined to paint a vivid picture of Mexico’s evolving political landscape. It’s a reminder that, in Mexican politics, the past is never far behind—but neither is the hope for a more accountable and responsive future.
