During her morning press conference at the National Palace, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo criticized former president Vicente Fox Quesada after he said in an interview that he "handed over the reins of the country" to Felipe Calderón in the 2006 elections. The president said that the national right, linked to the international right, has decided to put an end to the people's government, but that this is very difficult, so because its spokespeople are already very burned, they bring out "young Vicente Fox."
- Key Point: Fox acknowledged in an interview that he gave Calderón control of the country in 2006.
- Key Point: Sheinbaum accused Fox of acting as a spokesperson for the national and international right.
- Key Point: The statements revive the controversy over the 2006 presidential election.
Sheinbaum's criticism of Fox
The president did not hold back in describing Fox, whom she placed within a right-wing strategy to destabilize the current government. She said: "The national right linked to the international right has decided to end the people's government, only that is very difficult. So, since their spokespeople are already very burned, they bring in young Vicente Fox."
"The national right linked to the international right has decided to end the people's government, only that is very difficult. So, since their spokespeople are already very burned, they bring in young Vicente Fox," declared Claudia Sheinbaum.
The reference to "young Vicente Fox" was interpreted as irony toward the former president, who governed Mexico from 2000 to 2006. Sheinbaum insisted that her government will not yield to what she considered attacks from the opposition.
The interview that revives the 2006 election
In the interview, Fox recognizes that he "handed over the reins of the country" to Felipe Calderón in the 2006 elections. These words have been interpreted by the ruling party as an admission of electoral fraud, although the former president did not explicitly use that term in the fragment that was released.
The 2006 election was one of the most competitive in Mexico's recent history, with a minimal difference between Calderón and the then-leftist candidate, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Fox's statements reopen a debate that has been a source of political confrontation for years.
Reactions and next steps
So far, Vicente Fox has not issued a public response to President Sheinbaum's statements. The controversy adds to a series of exchanges between the federal government and former PAN presidents, who have criticized various policies of the current administration.
The interview and the presidential reply could become a new front of political dispute in the country, in a context where the opposition seeks to reposition itself and the ruling party defends its project. The issue is expected to remain on the public agenda in the coming days, while both sides maintain their positions.