There is hope for Mexico
… but it will be a very bumpy road
Reuters
During Tuesday’s Mañanera, the President and his cabinet members presented a Covid-19 vaccination plan that aims to start administering Pfizer’s vaccine to 125,000 health workers by the end of this year…yeah, like this month. It will be transported with the help of the Army and applied in Mexico City and the northern state of Coahuila.
Who will get it and when? Although the President said that every single Mexican will get the vaccine for free, his cabinet members clarified that the goal is to vaccinate at least 75% of the population over the age of 16 by the end of 2021. When will people get it? The government’s plan prioritises older citizens through a 5 stage plan - it does not give preference to those with chronic diseases.
Health workers treating covid-19 patients (Dec 20’ - Feb 21’)
60 years old or older (Feb 21’ - Apr 21’)
50 to 59 (Apr 21’ - May 21’)
40 to 49 (May 21’ - June 21’)
40 and under (June 21’ - Mar 22’)
I’m a young rich VIP, can I get it early? While there are still some details to be sorted out - like, where citizens can get it -, when asked if people can pay for their own vaccine, Covid-19 Czar, Hugo López-Gatell, replied with a NO. He added that state governments will not be able to buy and distribute vaccines. Even AMLO said that he would wait for his turn to get it (that would be in February)...
Is everything color de rosa? Even if everything goes according to plan (and that is a big IF), it would still take months for a sizable population to get vaccinated and the current situation is critical, especially in Mexico City where hospital bed occupancy rate is at 76% and the ICU occupancy rate is at 63%.
With holidays and reunions coming, you would think the local government would implement strict lockdown measures… but no. Basically nada. The Mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum, together with the President, have begged for people to stay home; however, the last time we checked most businesses (including gyms and restaurants) are open and residents are still going out.
One of the few restrictions that is being enforced with fines is for holding house parties … only if the neighbors physically file a report… and how much is the fine? Up to 8,688 pesos (an insignificant amount for many).
😳 AMLO shuffles cabinet and taps (inexperienced) loyalist as Minister of Economy
… but picks an experienced option for Central Bank
After his chief of staff left his post last week, AMLO announced major changes in his cabinet, sending his current Finance Minister, Graciela Marquez, to the board of the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (an autonomous agency in charge of tasks like the Census) and replacing her with his former presidential campaign manager, Tatiana Clouthier. Although a loyalist to the President, Clouthier is also a friendlier face to the business community and many expect that she will be the link between them and AMLO. Yet, critics are skeptical about experience in economic matters.
On the same day, the President presented Galia Borja as his proposal for Banxico’s deputy governor. She is currently the federal treasurer and would become the 2nd female member of the Bank’s board. Experts say that with this new appointee, the Bank will become less hawkish and more dovish- in plain English, this means that they expect that Banxico will favor lower interest rates, which could help grow the economy but also push inflation higher. Reuters
🇺🇸 Armed Mexicans were smuggled into the U.S. to safeguard Trump’s Border Wall Construction
Remember that huuuuge border wall that was going to protect the US from terrible Mexicans? Well, according to a whistleblower complaint revealed on Friday, contractors in charge of building Trump’s wall smuggled armed Mexican security teams into the US to guard construction sites in California.
The contractor went as far as to construct “a dirt road that would allow access from the Mexican side”, even using construction vehicles to block security cameras.
According to the documents, when an American security office filed a complaint against the company, a project manager replied, “What are you going to do about it?”
🇨🇳 Step by step - How Chinese 'money brokers' launder cash for Mexican drug cartels
If you ever lie awake at night wondering how you are going to launder your next $150,000 USD in drug cartel proceeds, you are in luck! This Reuters article succinctly explains how Mexican cartels are laundering money from drug sales in the United States through Chinese “money brokers.” This simple nine-step plan is based on the recent trial of a Chinese businessman convicted of money laundering in the U.S. and can help you lose all those unwanted piles of cash – and keep them off! All you need (in addition to piles of cash) is a code word, the unique serial number of a $1 bill, and the number of a U.S. burner phone. Reuters
😬 Labor Minister reveals 2021 minimum wage increase… by accident
While the President was talking about Mexico’s ridiculously low minimum wage at his press conference, the Labor Minister, Luisa María Alcalde, decided to jump on stage and share some interesting PowerPoint slides. In them, it shows that during 2020 Mexico ranks 82nd with a $182 per month minimum wage. BUT it also shows a 2021 projected minimum wage of $215 (a nearly 15% increase) that would place Mexico in 76th place. It was no surprise that the Minister declined to comment on the projected increase. Bloomberg
🛢️ Pemex gives contracts “by accident” to firm controlled by AMLO’s cousin
(2019)
Pemex CEO: Sir, it seems your cousin has contracts with Pemex.
AMLO: Well, that can’t be … please suspend them
… a year later at a Mañanera
Journalist: Mr President, any comments on the journalist investigative piece accusing Pemex of awarding your cousin juicy contracts
AMLO: … we will investigate BUT that journalist has a personal vendetta against us.. It’s probably not true
… days laters
Pemex CEO: Sir, it seems your cousin associated herself with another company and she wasn’t listed as a legal representative
AMLO: …
CEO: And well, we didn’t catch that and the company has won Pemex contracts worth over 365 million pesos
AMLO: … oh well… it can happen to anyone. Please suspend them (that idiot journalist, doesn’t have something better to do?! Where was he when we’ve been denouncing corruption from the past administrations?!)
What else we’ve been reading:
Mexico adds 11 beautiful “magical towns” to explore
Hema, Dutch rival of Miniso, opens its first physical store in Mexico. Plans to open 200 by 2025
Our good old president Felipe Calderon refusing to take the Russian vaccine after learning he must be sober for 45 days
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afecto: affection
AMLO’s quote: Let's leave the Christmas gifts for another time. Remember, give affection, don’t buy it.
Some context: AMLO was asking people, especially Mexico City residents, to stay home during the holiday season.