Mexico’s Sheinbaum criticizes politicians putting personal interests first after Sinaloa governor Rubén Rocha Moya resumes office
MEXICO CITY: Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Saturday criticized politicians who prioritize their “personal interest” over the country, after a ruling-party governor charged with drug trafficking by the United States returned to his job.
On Friday, Ruben Rocha Moya announced on X that he was resuming leadership of Sinaloa state, a role he had stepped away from in May to face an investigation by Mexican prosecutors.
Sheinbaum did not explictly name anyone in her X post Saturday that said “no personal interest can ever be placed above the interests of the people” and of Mexico.
“Power without principles becomes arrogance; power without limits, abuse.”
When questioned by journalists about Rocha on Saturday, the leftist leader referred them to her X post.
“I found out through his tweet,” Sheinbaum told reporters of his return to his job. “I just put out a post on X; that’s all I have to say.”
The US Justice Department charged Rocha and nine other officials of the ruling Morena party in April and demanded their extraditions for allegedly colluding with the infamous Sinaloa Cartel to distribute drugs inside the United States.
It was the first time the US had publicly charged a sitting Mexican politician.
In a long post on X, Rocha on Friday insisted he had “committed no crime” and was returning to office “with a clear conscience and head held high.”
The 77-year-old is an ally of Sheinbaum and very close to her mentor, former president Andrew Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Using the threat of tariffs, US President Donald Trump is demanding that Mexico redouble its efforts in the war on drugs.
The Republican frequently claims Mexico is governed by politicians linked to drug trafficking and has offered military support to Sheinbaum, who has rejected any such intervention.