At a special meeting with Mexico’s incoming cabinet led by President-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador , officials from Peña Nieto ’s administration began to deliver information from all 21 bodies of the federal government in order to formalize the government transition leading to the change in administration on December 1.
All 23 members of Peña Nieto’s cabinet , along with the 22 members that will accompany López Obrador for Mexico’s next administration , met for over an hour at the National Palace in Mexico City . Shortly after, at the Yard of Honor , both teams gave a message to exchange gratitude and praises, but also to stress differences regarding the education reform and the New Airport of Mexico City (NAICM) .
President Enrique Peña Nieto thanked the President-elect for his openness, good disposition, and interest in knowing the present administration’s situation, after which he promised a smooth transition and willingness to cooperate.
López Obrador stated that the implementation of an institutional and peaceful transition was nothing short of extraordinary in Mexico . He stressed that they had no time to lose in addressing development plans for his upcoming administration, as well as elaborating -in cooperation with the present government- the budget for 2019.
Certain differences arose when López Obrador assured that he would cancel the education reform that Peña Nieto had implemented and promoted during his government to replace it with an entirely new education reform meant to take into account the teachers’ point of view. “Without them, the quality of education cannot be improved,” he stated.
The President-elect proposed that the quality of teaching could be improved by extending its coverage and raising equality in the people’s right to education. “Until such time, I will abide by the law and respect the current government’s administration,” López Obrador stated.
In response, President Enrique Peña Nieto expressed that each administration had a different view regarding education, adding that “Just as we worked to defend the educational model that we proposed, we will be respectful of any future models that the upcoming administration may implement.”
“I am confident that both our governments will seek to provide a free, secular, and quality education for young people,” he stated.
As for the construction of Mexico’s New Airport, President Enrique Peña Nieto claimed that the megaproject would continue as planned, since contracts have already been signed with construction companies. However, he was respectful of the consultation process that López Obrador announced to enable citizens to decide on whether the project was to be canceled or remain in place.
The President-elect claimed that he wouldn’t lean towards either alternative, seeking to provide the necessary information for Mexican citizens to decide by the end of October . He announced that the consultation method would apply for any other government matter that may require it.
“People shouldn’t be taken for fools. It is the people that should have the power to decide. The claim that economy matters should only be handled by economists is false; it is everyone’s responsibility,” López Obrador expressed.
He also announced that, sometime before December 1 , he would present his candidates for the Ministry of National Defense (SEDENA) and the Navy (SEMAR) . Furthermore, he claimed that he would consult with the current secretaries so that major generals and active admirals can be taken into account.
President Enrique Peña Nieto assured that he would leave behind a country with political stability, a solid economy, social harmony, and peace. However, he admitted, “there are still parts of the country with high levels of insecurity, which will pose a challenge for the following administration.”
dm