President Andrés Manuel López Obrador accused the US Embassy of distributing “corn with weevils” for the funding they give to some Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Mexico.
Speaking about the role of the media in previous administrations, the president questioned the work of some “intellectuals” who, according to him, were subordinate to the government.
“Before it was not reported, everything was silent, there were very few media that reported, very few, one or two, and some in the states, but it was a totally subdued, subordinate journalism, the intellectuals well ‘maiceados’, all,” he said in his morning conference.
Read more: AMLO sends diplomatic note to US; asks to explain funding to CSOs
He added: “What we are seeing, that the so-called civil society is going to charge the U.S. Embassy, that is, the U.S. Embassy distributes corn with weevils.”
In addition, the president assured that his government will not use the intelligence service to monitor the actions of those who oppose his government.
The president makes this statement six days before his meeting with US Vice President Kamala Harris.
A few days ago, López Obrador announced that Harris’ visit to Mexico will be mainly to discuss the migration issue.
On several occasions, the president has said that he has a very good relationship with Kamala Harris and that the issue of funding organizations is not part of the agenda he is dealing with with her.
No response from the US
On May 6, President López Obrador presented a diplomatic note to the United States in which he asks to explain the financing to some CSOs, which are considered by the president as groups opposed to his government.
You may be interested in: Federal government and CSO in Mexico. A strained relationship
At the time, López Obrador showed some invoices and said that the organization Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity (MCCI) has received 50 million pesos from the US government since 2018, just as he began his six-year term.
He explained that the U.S. Embassy in Mexico through the Agency for International Development (USAID) financed this organization through the “donation” mechanism.
This fact was described by the president as “an act of interventionism that violates our sovereignty,” which is why he presented the diplomatic note.
“A foreign government cannot give money to political groups in another country, the Constitution establishes it, you can not receive money for political purposes, it is treason to the fatherland,” the president said.
However, from that day to date, the U.S. embassy has not responded to the diplomatic note.
Given this, the president has indicated that they will insist on the issue until they have an explanation.
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