- At REC2024, Interior Secretary Alcalde discusses the domestic political situation as the current administration comes to a close, and the 2024 federal elections.
- Together with Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, she spoke of the strategy of addressing the causes that lead to violence, governing without delegating, and Mexico's social welfare programs.
On the first day of the 35th meeting of Mexico's ambassadors and consuls (REC 2024), Interior Secretary Luisa María Alcalde Luján, together with Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, presented the progress made on the economy and social and security issues during the current administration, with a focus on domestic politics and governance.
Foreign Secretary Bárcena said that the political panorama will contribute to continuing and deepening the foreign policy strategy during the last year of President López Obrador's government.
“The process of profound transformation that Mexico has experienced did not happen by chance, nor is it improvised. The citizens decided on a government that embodied their desire for profound change. Men and women who for decades have helped build an alternative government project that follows the interests of the majority and focuses on the fight against inequality arrived at our government institutions as a result of the voice of the people at the elections.”
The motto of REC2024 is "For a diplomacy of convictions: close to the people, humanist and egalitarian." Secretary Luisa María Alcalde discussed with Mexico's diplomats the domestic political situation as the current administration draws to a close and this year’s federal electoral process.
Her presentation focused on the legacy of President López Obrador's administration, especially with respect to participatory democracy, social policies, public spending in the south and southeast of the country, megaprojects, infrastructure and public works, advances in the minimum wage and with the unions, the fight against corruption, improved security data and the reduction in poverty among Mexican families.
She said that the administration is drawing to a close, but that the electoral process will, unlike in other administrations, lead to an extremely intense year.
“I would say, perhaps, that this is the stellar moment of the Fourth Transformation. These will be key months, because it is the consolidation of the country's new vision. We are going to verify with data how we can govern differently."
With this focus, she said that the REC 2024 panels would provide Mexico's ambassadors and consuls abroad with data that proves that things can be done differently, including, importantly, the reduction of poverty and inequality in the country.
The interior secretary emphasized the effectiveness of the strategy of addressing the causes of violence, of governing without delegating and of first-hand coordination, as President López Obrador does, and of the country's social welfare programs.
"You know perfectly well that one of the pillars of the security strategy is that the president does not delegate it to anyone at all. Every day at six in the morning, both the foreign secretary and I, and the entire security cabinet, see what has happened over the last 24 hours; we make decisions and coordinate actions,” she said.
She said that this has led to 20 percent fewer homicides, 75 percent fewer kidnappings and a decrease in all high-impact crimes.
“So, the time for consolidating the project is coming, of consolidating the results, and an election that is the largest in Mexico's history is coming. There has never before been an election of this magnitude."
Secretary Alcalde said that 99 million voters inside and outside of Mexico will participate in the election, and she stressed that efforts are being made to ensure greater participation abroad, including new voters such as those who are currently incarcerated without having been sentenced.
“This will be an election where a free and secret vote will be guaranteed. We have good coordination within the security and interior cabinets with the institutions in charge of carrying out the election, which is the INE and the electoral court, so that everything goes smoothly.
“We are all going to work so that this is a peaceful, free process, where we can all participate to decide on the future we aspire to for our country," she said.
