Sheinbaum Accuses Ex-Presidents Zedillo and Calderón of Allowing U.S. Meddling

President Claudia Sheinbaum has sharply criticized former Mexican presidents Ernesto Zedillo and Felipe Calderón, accusing them of capitulating to U.S. interference in Mexico's affairs. During a press conference, Sheinbaum presented her case, referencing claims made by former PRI presidential candidate Francisco Labastida regarding Zedillo's administration. According to Labastida's account, Zedillo allegedly secured a $40 billion loan from the United States, which, Sheinbaum argued, constituted a significant compromise of national sovereignty in exchange for political support, effectively undermining democratic processes.

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Labastida dice que como el gobierno no lo apoyó, no pudo ganar, pero que además el gobierno no lo apoyó porque Zedillo negoció 40 mil millones de dólares frente al voto popular, bueno, si eso no es injerencismo, que es injerencismo

Sheinbaum further pointed to the "Fast and Furious" operation under Felipe Calderón's presidency as another egregious example of U.S. meddling. This controversial initiative, which involved allowing approximately 2,000 firearms with tracking chips to enter Mexico with the aim of monitoring criminal groups, is seen by Sheinbaum as a clear instance of allowing foreign operations on Mexican soil without adequate oversight. She questioned what else could be considered "injerencismo" if these actions do not qualify.

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Calderón, que dejaba operar en territorio a la DEA, pero déjense ustedes eso, hizo un acuerdo con Obama, entonces, para el llamado Rápido y furioso, bueno, si eso no es injerencismo, ¿entonces qué es?

Adding to her critique, Sheinbaum also took aim at Francisco Labastida himself. She questioned his current role as a commentator on political affairs, particularly regarding the situation in Sinaloa and the extradition request for its governor, Rubén Rocha Moya. She reminded Labastida of his own past, referencing the "Pemexgate" scandal and his acknowledgment in his own book that Zedillo "surrendered" to the United States. Sheinbaum's remarks underscore her administration's stance on national sovereignty and its critical view of past administrations' foreign policy decisions.

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Fue gobernador de Sinaloa, y ahora él se pone como el juez de todos, a explicarle al pueblo de México qué difícil circunstancia vive Sinaloa; hay que recordarle el Pemexgate o hay que recordarle también que él dice en su propio libro que Zedillo se entregó a los Estados Unidos, y el argumento que pone es que el gobierno no le dio dinero para su campaña