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Politicians now shun interviews they once sought, says veteran Mexican host
🇲🇽 Mexico /Culture & Society

Politicians now shun interviews they once sought, says veteran Mexican host

From El Universal · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • Sergio Sarmiento's program "La entrevista con Sarmiento" is celebrating its 29th anniversary.
  • Sarmiento notes that politicians he previously interviewed frequently now refuse to appear on his show.
  • The program has expanded beyond politics to include artists and writers.

For 29 years, "La entrevista con Sarmiento" has been a fixture on Adn Noticias, offering a platform for dialogue. When the program began, its instruction was to provide space for the opposition, a stance that included many figures now prominent in the current government. However, host Sergio Sarmiento observes a stark contrast today: those same individuals, now in power, have systematically refused to appear as guests.

I always invite them, the problem is they don't accept coming; before I always had them and now they don't want to; Andrés Manuel, for example, I had him 14 times when they said there was an informational bias against them, now all officials refuse.

— Sergio SarmientoDescribing the current reluctance of politicians to appear on his interview program.

Sarmiento recalls interviewing figures like Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Mario Delgado, now Secretary of Public Education, numerous times in the past. "I always invite them, the problem is they don't accept coming; before I always had them and now they don't want to; Andrés Manuel, for example, I had him 14 times when they said there was an informational bias against them, now all officials refuse," he stated. Despite this, he asserts that it has not diminished the program's content.

Initially focused on politics, the program's scope broadened over time. Sarmiento himself grew tired of the political focus and decided to diversify his guest list, inviting prominent artists such as Saúl Hernández and Fher from Caifanes and Maná, as well as acclaimed writers like Carlos Fuentes. He recounted an amusing experience with Joan Manuel Serrat, who initially arrived annoyed after a previous interview with a less informed host, but ultimately praised Sarmiento's interview after the host demonstrated deep knowledge of his lyrics.

I had him 14 times when they said there was an informational bias against them, now all officials refuse.

— Sergio SarmientoRecalling past frequent interviews with current government officials.

Sarmiento is also marking nearly three decades in journalism, recalling his first article published at age 17 for the magazine "Siempre," which paid him 150 pesos, a considerable sum at the time. He remains committed to his craft, preferring the tactile experience of typing, famously returning an iPad gifted by Ricardo Salinas, owner of TV Azteca, because he felt more comfortable "thinking with keys."

I was accustomed to thinking with keys.

— Sergio SarmientoExplaining his preference for typing over using a tablet.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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