PAN criticizes Mexico City's World Cup security, citing delayed measures after deaths

The National Action Party (PAN) has criticized the security operations during the World Cup in Mexico City, asserting that essential measures were only put in place after significant delays and tragic consequences. Local deputy Lizzette Salgado stated that while the operation on Sunday, coinciding with the Mexico vs. England match, was successful, it does not erase the perceived improvisation by the city government throughout the tournament.

"In Acción Nacional, we celebrate that Sunday's event passed without major incidents. No one wants a celebration to end in tragedy, and of course, we recognize the work of the public servants who participated in the operation. But one good day does not rewrite the history of the previous weeks. The problem was never Sunday's operation. The problem was that the Mexico City government was late," Salgado said.

The PAN legislator recalled that for over a year, the party had warned about the risks associated with hosting an event of this magnitude. They repeatedly insisted that the rapid increase in crowd sizes required strengthening security and civil protection measures. However, she claimed, these warnings were dismissed, and assurances were given that everything was planned.

"The most regrettable thing is that only after the death of four people during the World Cup celebrations did access controls, capacity limits, orderly space closures, and a much more robust crowd management strategy appear," Salgado noted. She argued that governing involves anticipating and preventing tragedies, not learning from them. Presenting Sunday's operation as definitive proof of the entire strategy's success, she added, is premature, as crowd dynamics depend on multiple factors, including the game's outcome.