Mexico’s President gives national address while dogged by scandal

Latin America

Mexico’s President Enrique Pena Nieto is touting his administration’s achievements during his four years in office. But, Pena Nieto’s State of the Nation report comes amid falling approval ratings in many national polls.

CCTV America’s Franc Contreras reports.

Public opinion polls by several leading Mexican dailies indicate that fewer than 30 percent of Mexicans approve of the job Nieto is doing.

At least two major corruption scandals have enveloped his administration – including one last month. Investigative reporters revealed that he allegedly plagiarized almost a third of his law school thesis. Pena Nieto denies the accusation.

With a hostile political climate growing, it’s no surprise that Pena Nieto held this tightly-controlled media event with hand-picked young Mexicans as his audience.

Mexico’s president said his administration is providing greater security for his country, in the face of criminal violence. Meanwhile, the government’s own statistics indicate that murders caused by gun violence are rising again in Mexico.

In his State of the Nation report, Pena Nieto said his administration is effectively fighting extreme poverty. But millions of Mexicans still live with poor housing conditions, and many do not have enough to eat.

A meeting with U.S. Republican presidential contender Donald Trump this week did not help.


Juan Carlos Hidalgo takes a look at the political situation in Latin America

For a deeper look at the political situation in Mexico and the rest of Latin America, CCCTV America’s Asieh Namdar spoke to Juan Carlos Hidalgo, policy analyst on Latin America at the Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity for CATO Institute.