Daily: Mexico Political 27.01.2026

FEATURED STORY

A massacre linked to organized crime at a soccer game in Guanajuato's Salamanca city, leaves 11 dead.

On January 25, an armed commando stormed a field in Loma de las Flores, Salamanca, and opened fire on players, family members, and spectators who were socializing after a game, leaving at least 11 people dead and more than a dozen wounded, including a woman and a minor. Neighbors reported dozens of gunshots, and authorities launched a joint operation to assist the victims and secure the area. The Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection linked the attack to a confrontation between the Santa Rosa de Lima Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Guanajuato Governor, Libia Dennise García, and Salamanca Mayor, César Prieto, condemned the massacre and promised to find those responsible, while President Sheinbaum said the Security Cabinet is already coordinating actions with state authorities. Lower House President Kenia López Rabadán (PAN), demanded justice and punishment for the guilty, and the Mexican Episcopal Conference expressed its outrage at the violence, calling for redoubled efforts to ensure security. The wave of homicides in Salamanca, with 20 murders in three days, has intensified concerns about violence in the region.

EXECUTIVE BRANCH & PRESIDENCY

President Sheinbaum's approval rating remains high in poll

• Claudia Sheinbaum has a 77.5% approval rating at the start of 2026, according to a poll by FactoMétrica and Reporte Índigo. In addition, 66.3% of those surveyed believe that the federal government adequately defends Mexico's interests vis-à-vis the US. Support for Sheinbaum's government is reflected in areas, such as security, education, and employment, although issues such as health and the fight against corruption receive lower ratings.

President highlights importance of her morning press conferences in the face of misinformation

• When questioned about the impact of misinformation campaigns on her approval rating, President Sheinbaum said that it is crucial to “keep people informed.” Sheinbaum warned about the increase in falsehoods on the internet and the need to be careful about the information consumed by the population.

Vice Admiral Farías Laguna requested presidential intervention in his legal proceedings 

• Manuel Roberto Farías Laguna, detained for a case linked to alleged fiscal fuel theft, sent a letter to President Sheinbaum denouncing the fabrication of crimes and a politicized criminal process that, according to him, prevents him from defending himself adequately. The letter, released by his lawyer Epigmenio Mendieta, requests a review of the case and the direct intervention of the president, who responded in her daily press conference that she has not yet received the document and will comment once she has read it.

LEGISLATIVE DEVELOPMENTS

Congress approved Gertz Manero as Ambassador to the United Kingdom

• The Permanent Commission of Congress ratified the appointment of Alejandro Gertz Manero as Ambassador, proposed by President Claudia Sheinbaum. The former Attorney General will replace Josefa González Blanco, who left the post after fifteen accusations of workplace harassment, which she denies. PAN and PRI were absent from the vote and MC abstained, questioning Gertz's qualifications and the transparency of the process. Analysts saw Gertz's appointment as another example of political reward and strategic decision-making, as Sheinbaum was able to appoint a new attorney general closer to her, Ernestina Godoy. 

Human Rights Commission presented its annual report amid criticism from the opposition

• National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) President, Rosario Piedra Ibarra, presented the report to the Congress’s Permanent Commission on Monday. She said that since 2019, recommendations have tripled and that 74.9% correspond to violations by past governments. PAN and PRI legislators questioned the CNDH effectiveness and its closeness to MORENA. They criticized omissions in cases such as disappearances, censorship, and the derailment of the Interoceanic Train. Piedra maintained that the CNDH is autonomous. . Expect a full report analyzing the CNDH 2025 activities and current standing later this week. 

FOREIGN POLICY

Controversy over the extradition of 92 Mexican criminals to the United States

• Relatives of those extradited announced that they will challenge the Mexican government's decision in courts and international bodies, while the defense teams of some of those extradited accused the government of treason for alleged violations of due process. For its part, the Mexican embassy in Washington reaffirmed its political neutrality after accusations of interference, while MORENA lawmakers defended the extraditions as international cooperation in the face of criticism from the PAN and PRI, who questioned the transparency and use of the National Security Law instead of extradition treaties.

State  oil company PEMEX suspends oil Shipments to Cuba amid US pressure

• According to a Bloomberg report, PEMEX appeared to have suspended crude oil shipments to Cuba, initially scheduled for January. Documents consulted revealed that the shipment, which was to be loaded in the middle of the month, was removed from the agenda following intensified pressure from the US government, which has warned that there will be no more oil or financial support for the island. President Claudia Sheinbaum has previously defended the supply of crude oil to Cuba as an act of humanitarian aid.

President contacted South Korea after a controversy over ticket sales for the Korean band BTS  

• Ticketmaster rejected resales and asked fans not to use unofficial platforms after its system became overwhelmed, receiving more than 2.1 million purchase attempts for 136,400 tickets to BTS concerts in May. In response to complaints the government opened proceedings for lack of clear information, while President Sheinbaum sent a letter to her South Korean counterpart requesting more dates and revealed that she is in contact with the national concert planner Ocesa to expand the offer.

Sheinbaum confirmed Peru’s Betssy Chávez's asylum in the Mexican embassy in Lima

• President Sheinbaum confirmed that former Peruvian Prime Minister Betssy Chávez remains in the embassy, awaiting safe passage following the breakdown of diplomatic relations with Peru. Brazil took on the task of protecting the Mexican diplomatic headquarters, given the Peruvian government's refusal to allow Chávez, who requested political asylum, to leave. Sheinbaum also noted that there are similar tensions with Ecuador, where bilateral relations have been suspended, signalling Mexico’s visible regional animosities.

Local Politics

Salomón Jara will continue as governor of Oaxaca after recall referendum 

• The State Electoral and Citizen Participation Institute of Oaxaca (IEEPCO) concluded the count of the first state referendum on the governor’s recall. 58.82% of the votes supported Jara's remaining in office, compared to 39% who called for his removal, with a turnout of just 29.9% of registered voters. Although the result is not binding as it did not reach the required 40%, the process confirmed his continuity in office. The low turnout reignited the debate about the usefulness of this mechanism when citizen participation is limited.

Governors' approval ratings in Mexico close 2025 at stable levels

• The average national approval rating for Mexico's governors reached 49.7% in December, according to the Mitofsky Ranking. The Head of Government of Mexico City and the governors of the 31 states show a decrease of 0.1% compared to November. This month, 15 governors (12 from MORENA, 2 from  MC, and 1 from the PRI) saw their approval ratings fall, while 15 (9 from MORENA, 4 from the PAN, and 2 from other parties) saw them rise. Expect a full report analyzing the ratings later this week. 

Judicial Developments

Supreme Court decides not to use newly purchased luxury SUVs after widespread criticism

• The Court said it will not use nine recently purchased vehicles and that they will be returned or reassigned to judges at risk. Chief Justice Hugo Aguilar defended the purchase, noting that the previous vehicles were in poor condition and that the safety of the ministers should be a priority, although he stated that he himself can travel by subway. This followed another scandal where Aguilar was criticized for keeping 97 assistants, amid Mexican scepticism that the Judicial Elections did not really changed the state of the Judiciary's luxuries

Magistrate of the new Judicial Administration Body (OAJ) resigns after refusing to sign direct awards she considered irregular

• Magistrate Lorena Josefina Pérez Romo resigned from the Body after only four months in office. The OAJ is the body responsible for administering the budget and contracts of the Supreme Court and the Judicial Council. Pérez Romo resigned after refusing to sign direct awards that she considered irregular, prompting OAJ President Néstor Vargas to file complaints with the comptroller's office for these actions. Chief Justice Hugo Aguilar announced that the Plenary will appoint her replacement this week. The incident highlighted the fragility of the new body's internal control mechanisms and the need to ensure that the judiciary remains free from corruption and political pressure.