U.S.- México 360 August 26-30Th, 2019
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U.S.- México 360 August 26-30th, 2019 México City usmexicofound.org U.S.- México 360 INDEX 1. Brief context of México 1.1 New government 2 1.2 AMLO’s short bio 5 2. U.S.–México 360 5 3. Agenda 6 4. Bios 11 4.1 Delegation members 11 4.2 Staff 16 5. Day by day: Mexican counterparts and institutions 17 5.2 Tuesday, August 27th 17 5.3 Wednesday, August 28th 21 5.4 Thursday, August 29th 26 5.5 Friday, August 30th 28 6. Useful information 29 6.1 Hotel Info 29 6.2 Weather 30 6.3 Contacts 30 1 U.S.- México 360 1. Brief context of México1 1.1 New government 2018 elections Andrés Manuel López Obrador, popularly known as AMLO, won the presidential elections in July 2018 with 53% of the vote, defeating his closest rival by 30 points. His message was immensely popular with Mexican voters, who handed him and gave his party, the National Regeneration Movement (Morena), a majority in both chambers of Congress. On campaign, AMLO promised a revolution that he called the “fourth transformation”, in which he argued that the political system needed renewal, not technocratic tweaks. New government’s priorities As AMLO sworn in, he promised he would curb corruption, end impunity, strengthen the economy, pacify the country, level out inequality and empower the disenfranchised. A year in office Since taking office, AMLO has given daily 7:00 am press conferences that allow him to set the day’s news cycle and to address whatever issue he is asked about. AMLO began his government by delivering on his promises through an array of social welfare and development programs, including increasing pensions and other benefits for the elderly, expanding student scholarship programs for the impoverished and promoting job-creation initiatives for young people. Additionally, he has paid special attention to austerity policies, relevant infrastructure projects and championing the fight against corruption. Infrastructure One of the first executive moves from López Obrador came before he even took office. In October 2018 he announced that he intended to cancel the construction of a new partially built airport. He said the $13 billion project was wasteful and plagued with suspicions of corruption. After this decision, many view economic policy as a weak spot because cancelling the construction was not only costly but has made investors and businessmen cautious. Nevertheless, López Obrador has said “there is confidence among foreign and Mexican investors.” The government is still wrestling with investors over the terms of a construction bond buyback. 1 Information from The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Economist, USA Today and USMF360’s own analysis. 2 U.S.- México 360 For this and other public policy projects, López Obrador has called for public referendums in order to get the people involved in decision making. Nevertheless, less than 2 percent of the nation’s voters participated in the new airport referendum and decided about the country’s most important and ambitious infrastructure project. Among other initiatives, AMLO’s major infrastructure and public works projects include a new oil refinery (against experts advise and international trends), roads, an airport expansion and a rail line (Tren Maya) that would stretch through several southern states and -according to him- would create 300,000 jobs during the construction phase. Austerity López Obrador rallied against what he called wasteful government spending and calls for austerity: he intends to sell the presidential airplane and takes commercial flights, has auctioned a fleet of armored vehicles and is chauffeured in a Volkswagen Jetta. He championed a new law to cut the highest government salaries and raise the lowest ones, and proposed the expansion of social programs benefiting the poor and marginalized. AMLO has taken a 40 percent pay cut – meaning he earns $108,000 pesos per month ($5,300 a month). The new law includes that no public servant can earn more than him, which is being contested by the judicial branch. Reducing crime and violence In order to fight crime, the new president has been able to implement major policy reforms on security issues like the creation of a new security force that integrates military officers and civilian police: the National Guard, which will be in charge of the nation’s public security. This initiative has been highly contested by civil society, as it warns about a potential militarization of the country. López Obrador has also highlighted his government’s push to combat fuel theft, which, he said, has led to “good results”, including cutting the monthly volume of stolen fuel from 81,000 barrels in November to the current rate of 15,000 barrels. This strategy generated a shortage of gasoline in 9 states and was criticized for the lack of planning, shifting fuel transportation from frequently tapped pipelines to tankers and trains. Underserved population AMLO has repeatedly vowed to look out for all citizens, with special attention given to the poor. His administration’s proposed budget seemed to deliver in part on this promise, and includes increases in social security spending for the elderly, an expansion of scholarship initiatives for students, and billions of dollars to fund job-training and other programs for unemployed youth. This was followed by the announcement of a 16 percent minimum wage increase across the country. 3 U.S.- México 360 López Obrador has also promised to focus attention on the impoverished southern states of Mexico, proposing to step up development in the region, including a train project connecting the Yucatán Peninsula to the state of Chiapas that he says will spur employment and tourism, but that lacks environmental assessments. Moreover, to fund his new flagship programs, he has been widely criticized for defunding childcare programs, conditional cash transfers to mothers, shelters for women victims of violence and community kitchens, among other programs that supported entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises. U.S. - Mexico bilateral relationship Just after the first 100 days in office, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador celebrated what he called a “cordial” relations with the United States. He noted publicly that the United States has committed to investing $2.5 billion in Central America and $4.8 billion in Mexico, to help create jobs. There is tension around the “wall” discourse, immigration policy with Central American migrant caravans making their way through Mexico to the U.S., and with the unilateral decision from the United States for Mexico to become a “Safe-Third Country” for Asylum seekers, as well as with the ratification of the USMCA Trade Treaty. What’s next? One of AMLO’s biggest challenges will be to deliver on the expectations that won him the election. His current popularity rate is around 70%.2 2 Approval Tracker: Mexico’s President AMLO, https://www.as-coa.org/articles/approval-tracker-mexicos- president-amlo 4 U.S.- México 360 Andrés Manuel López Obrador @lopezobrador_ Three-times presidential candidate, Andrés Manuel López Obrador is the 2018 elected President. AMLO or El Peje, as he is popularly known, was the Democratic Revolution Party’s (PRD) presidential candidate in 2006 and 2012. In 2006, he lost the election with a difference of less than 250,000 votes and claimed election fraud. After resigning to the PRD, he founded Morena, originally a civil association, later transformed into a political party. Lopez Obrador was Mexico City’s Major from 2000 to 2006. In his last year in office, the Congress decided to invalidate his judicial immunity (fuero) and tried to avoid his candidacy for the 2006 presidential elections. Between 1996 and 1999 he was the national PRD president. In 1994 he ran as the party’s candidate for the government of his home state Tabasco but lost against PRI’s candidate Roberto Madrazo. In the late 1980’s he was part of the Democratic faction of PRI that resigned to their party to create PRD. 2. U.S.-México 360 In partnership with the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL), the U.S.-Mexico 360 public diplomacy initiative will provide the opportunity for 11 U.S. leaders from federal, state, and local governments; business; think tanks and other research institutions; advocacy organizations; and NGOs to meet counterparts on a professional study tour in Mexico City from August 26-30th, 2019. Participants represent a diverse set of institutions and many aspects of U.S.-Mexico policy, including politics and government, economics and trade, industry, education, media and communications, and research and advocacy. 5 U.S.- México 360 3. Agenda Monday, August 26th, 2019 09:15 AM Drop off luggage at ACYPL Office 1030 15th Street, NW, Suite 580 West. Washington, DC 20005 09:30 AM Depart for ACYPL Briefing 10:00 AM Meeting with Libby Rosenbaum, ACYPL CEO Skadden- 1440 New York Avenue NW 11:00AM Lunch meeting with Christopher Wilson, Deputy Director-Mexico Institute, Wilson Center 12:00 PM Commute to Mexican Embassy 12:30 PM Meeting with Amb. Martha Bárcena, Mexican Ambassador to the U.S. 1911 Pennsylvania Ave NW, DC 20006. 8th Floor. 01:30 PM Commute to ACYPL Office 1030 15th Street, NW, Suite 580 West. Washington, DC 20005 02:00 PM Load luggage Bus 02:30 PM Bus departs to Dulles Airport 05:25 PM Flying to Mexico City Flight United Airlines 1566 09:05 PM Group pick-up at airport Terminal 1 09:30 PM Group Dinner at El Califa (Tacos) Av. Paseo de la Reforma 382, Cuauhtémoc, 06600 Ciudad de México, CDMX 10:30 PM Check-in Hotel Marquis Av. Paseo de la Reforma 465, Cuauhtémoc, 06500 Ciudad de México, CDMX 6 U.S.- México 360 Tuesday, August 27th, 2019 Suggested dress code: Formal 08:30 AM Breakfast with US Embassy Staff (Brian Brisson/ FCS, Chad Wesen/POL, Jim Wolfe/PAS, Ramon Escobar/ECON) Hotel Marquis.