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Diplomats can't foot the bill

Off the Record features fact-checked news written by journalists and contributors to EL UNIVERSAL

Mexican diplomats are no longer paid rent and tuition fees - Photo: Edgar Garrido/Reuters
06/01/2019 |10:55
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Diplomats can't foot the bill

After the budget cuts and the decrease in benefits for Mexican diplomats abroad , they were promised, by Moisés Poblanno , the director of Foreign Service and Human Resources of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , their situation would be analyzed and they would be given an answer; nevertheless, almost a month after, they haven't been informed and the Mexican diplomats have started raising their voices because they say they have to pay rent and tuition fees, two of the benefits canceled in December. The might be given an answer next week during the Ambassadors and Consuls Annual Meeting . Will the members of the Mexican Foreign Service protest? Or will they resign to a more austere life from now on?

A Venezuelan hot potato

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Mexico

's position in regards to Nicolás Maduro caused negative comments during a meeting with the Lima Group , who don't recognize Maduro as Venezuela's President . Mexico's Deputy Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Maximiliano Reyes , who was present at the meeting in Peru , only read his speech and didn't say anything else during the meeting. What's more, he didn't want to participate in the press conference offered by chancellors and vice chancellors. Foreign diplomats are wondering if the Mexican foreign service will be more active in its polemic positions or if it prefers not talking about someone else's problems. A difficult position to maintain in a globalized world.

An accelerated National Guard

In the face of the comments that indicated the National Guard was operating in states such as Morelos , as the local government announced on December 29, both the Security and Citizens Protection Minister, Alfonso Durazo and the Sedena had to deny and correct the news. There were many critics about the illegality of operating an organization that doesn't exist yet, nor in the Constitution or in the laws. Can security emergencies in several states wait? Until Congress reforms the Constitution , it seems like the f ederal government will have to keep on refuting the more and more frequent actions of the military and navy police are part of the N ational Guard.

Pending Transparency

Until yesterday, several members of Andrés Manuel López Obrador 's cabinet hadn't issued their conflict of interests and patrimonial statement. Last Thursday, the President said: “Every public servant has to publish their assets because now there's a possibility that they can be kept private. Because of moral reasons we all have to publish them. The one who doesn't publish their assets, arguing that they aren't required by law, won't be able to work in this administration.” The pending question is: how much time will the President give them? The International Transparency Day is until September 28.

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