The United States ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, assured that our country is going through an insecurity crisis, in addition He criticized the Mexican Government for “denying the reality” of the wave of violence that is being experienced in the country and regretted the failed strategy of “hugs, not bullets” of the former president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. (2018-2024).
“For many years it has been said that everything is fine in Mexico, that everyone has security, now we see the realities that are happening, the deaths that are seen everywhere. To say that there is no problem is to deny reality,” said the diplomat. at a press conference in Mexico City.
Salazar was especially critical of the ‘hugs, not bullets’ strategy promoted by the previous López Obrador government, considering it insufficient to confront the high rates of violence in the country and emphasizing that it is a serious problem that cannot be ignored or ignored. avoid responsibility.
“The previous president did not want to receive support from the United States, he closed the door to investments of over 32 million dollars, because he did not want that investment to reach Mexico to help with the security of the Mexican people,” said.
López Obrador left power on October 1, when he was replaced by the new President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, belonging to the same National Regeneration Movement party (Morena) after her large victory in the presidential elections last June.
The US ambassador insisted that Mexico’s security is a priority shared by both countries, so they must work as partners and put aside “ideological problems.”
Specifically, Salazar criticized the lack of resources in the security budget, a measure that, in his opinion, affects the country’s ability to combat corruption and implement effective justice.
“You cannot pay a police officer almost anything and expect him to do his job well,” he argued, adding that success in the fight against insecurity requires “real resources” and justice that combats corruption at all levels.
In this sense, Salazar was in favor of carrying out judicial reform in Mexico, but emphasized that this must be done to guarantee that the law is applied effectively, He assured that the country needs to eliminate corruption and improve its efficiency.
“Mexico needs a judicial system that really works,” he stated, emphasizing that corruption in this area weakens institutions and hinders security throughout the territory, as well as reiterating his concern about the recent reform promoted by Sheinbaum and that provides for the election of the judges by popular vote.
On the other hand, the ambassador stressed the importance of working on the prevention of violence, an approach with which he partly agreed with the new administration, while highlighting government programs such as ‘Sowing Life’ and ‘Young People Building the Future’, that the US has supported.
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