In the final stretch of his government, the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), gave a second interview to a foreign media outlet, this time to the famous CBS program 60 Minutes.
Journalist Sharyn Alfonsi spoke with the Mexican president who addressed complex and controversial issues such as the migration crisis, the fentanyl epidemic, and relations with the United States under the administrations of Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
About Fentanyl
For the first time, López Obrador acknowledged that fentanyl is produced in Mexico. However, he downplayed the fact by noting that it is also manufactured in the United States and Canada.
He also assured that there is no drug consumption in Mexico.
“Do you know why we don’t have the drug consumption that you have in the United States? (…) because we have customs, traditions, and we do not have the problem of family disintegration.”
“But there is drug consumption in Mexico,” the journalist pointed out. To which López Obrador replied yes, “but very little.”
Hugs, Not Bullets
When questioned about his security strategy and his phrase “hugs, not bullets,” Andrés Manuel López Obrador assured that it has been successful and denied that there is impunity in Mexico, despite the high figures of unresolved crimes. “There is no impunity in Mexico,” he stated.
Relationship with the United States
The president highlighted the independence and sovereignty of Mexico in front of the United States, emphasizing a relationship of cooperation but not subordination.
“We are an independent, free, sovereign country; we are not a colony, we are not a protectorate of any foreign country. We have a very good relationship with the government of the United States, but not of subordination. President Biden is respectful of our sovereignty as President Trump was, because every time I talk to President Biden, the first thing he tells me is that our relationship has to be on an equal footing.
“It’s very difficult for U.S. politicians to understand. What do they do? Instead of seeking dialogue, reaching agreements, and addressing the causes, they use, in our case, Mexico, to say, ‘the fault lies with Mexico, the migration problem is caused by Mexico,” he pointed out.
Contrast Between Trump and Biden
López Obrador commented on the differences and similarities in his relationship with Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden, but highlighted the respect for Mexican sovereignty by both.
Greg Abbott
Regarding the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, Andrés Manuel López Obrador accused him of making a political spectacle of the migration issue.
“The Governor of Texas, to make propaganda because I believe he wants to be a candidate for the Vice Presidency of the United States, goes to the Rio Grande and puts up wire fences and makes a spectacle. That is opportunism, that with all due respect, is politicking. That’s not serious.”
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Corruption and Political Violence
The president claimed to have eradicated corruption and denied repression and political violence, despite criticisms and international reports indicating otherwise.
Defense of the Morning Press Conferences
During the interview with 60 Minutes, AMLO justified the public exposure of a journalist from The New York Times, defended what he called a method of direct communication with the people, and rejected accusations of links with drug trafficking.
Below we share the video preview of Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s interview with 60 Minutes.
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