Senator Cuauhtémoc Ochoa denies rift with Hidalgo governor, says conversation was taken out of context

Senator Cuauhtémoc Ochoa Fernández rejected claims that he has fallen out with Hidalgo Governor Julio Menchaca Salazar after a conversation with Senator Adán Augusto López was leaked. Ochoa said the exchange had been taken out of context.

“ I have always had an excellent relationship with him. A conversation taken out of context, and there is no better time for me to be in contact with him than now, as governor,” Ochoa said. He also insisted that there was no confrontation with Menchaca and said some people were seeking to create the impression of a division that does not exist.

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I have always had an excellent relationship with him. A conversation taken out of context, and there is no better time for me to be in contact with him than now, as governor.

Ochoa said Menchaca is his friend and that he has enormous respect for him. He added that his relationship with Senator Simey Olvera, who is also involved in the nomination discussion, remains good.

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I insist, I have an excellent relationship with the governor.

Asked how a photograph showing his WhatsApp exchange with López was obtained, Ochoa said the person who took the picture should explain that. He also addressed the possibility that Hidalgo could nominate a woman. Ochoa said President Claudia Sheinbaum had been clear on gender changes under the constitutional reform, though he added that he was not a lawyer and that someone involved in drafting the reform should explain whether a man could still be nominated.

Ochoa described López’s presence as coordinator of the Fourth Constituency, which includes Hidalgo, as part of his role as a regional delegate carrying out party duties.

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The constitutional reform establishes a change of gender. The truth is, I am not a lawyer. We would have to ask someone who drafted the reform.