A guide to the governors’ races in Chiapas, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos

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May 10, 2024

Campaign propaganda at a rally in Cuernavaca — Get the latest on the governors' races in eight Mexican states, in part one of our series covering Chiapas, Guanajuato, Jalisco and Morelos. (Margarito Pérez Retana/Cuartoscuro)

While the main focus of the upcoming elections is the presidential contest between Claudia Sheinbaum, Xóchitl Gálvez and Jorge Álvarez Máynez, Mexicans will in fact elect around 20,000 federal, state and municipal representatives on June 2.

In eight states, citizens will elect new governors to serve six-year terms that will conclude in 2030.

Two alliances are backing candidates in most of Mexico’s gubernatorial elections, while the Citizens Movement (MC) party is also fielding candidates.

One alliance is Sigamos Haciendo Historia (Let’s Keep Making History), made up of the Morena party, the Labor Party (PT) and the Ecological Green Party of Mexico (PVEM).

The other is Fuerza y Corazón por México (Strength and Heart for Mexico), made up of the National Action Party (PAN), the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD).

Of the eight states where citizens will elect new governors this year, Morena — the party founded by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador — currently governs five, the PAN is in office in two and MC holds one.

Voters in Mexico City — Voters go to the polls on June 2, 2024 to choose not only a new president but new leaders in many other government positions. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro.com)

Here’s a guide to the gubernatorial races in four of the eight states where new governors will be elected on June 2.

A guide to the contests in the four other states will be published on Mexico News Daily soon.

Chiapas

Population: 5.5 million.
Capital: Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Current governor: Rutlio Escandón (Morena)

Three candidates are vying to become the next governor of Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost and poorest state.

The state has recently been plagued by security problems, especially in areas near the border with Guatemala, where various crime groups including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel have a presence.

Eduardo Ramírez Aguilar (Morena-PT-PVEM)

Ramírez took leave as a federal senator to contest the gubernatorial election in Chiapas. He has previously served as a federal deputy, general secretary of the Chiapas state government and mayor of Comitán de Domínguez, where he was born in 1977.

🌐📱(Social media monitor): On his X account, the gubernatorial aspirant nicknamed “El Jaguar Negro (The Black Jaguar) has demonstrated ample support for the Morena candidates contesting other elections, including Claudia Sheinbaum.

With Sheinbaum as president, Chiapas will begin “a new era,” Ramírez said in one recent post.

Eduardo Ramírez Aguilar at a campaign rally — Eduardo Ramírez Aguilar (right) at a campaign rally on May 1. (Eduardo Ramírez/X)

In a post on X last month he said:

“I aspire to be governor, but I don’t want to be a governor who subjugates the people of Chiapas. I want to be a governor who walks side by side with the people of Chiapas, who holds up the dream of Chiapas, who feels the needs of the people of Chiapas.”

Olga Luz Espinosa Morales (PAN-PRI-PRD)

A former federal deputy for the PRD, Espinosa is aiming to become the first female governor of Chiapas. The 47-year-old candidate completed a law degree at the Autonomous University of Chiapas and has master’s degrees in education management and crime science.

Olga Luz Espinosa at a campaign rally — The PAN-PRI-PRD candidate Olga Luz Espinosa at a rally. She is aspiring to become the state’s first female governor. (Olga Luz Espinosa/X)

🌐📱: On her X account, Espinosa declared on Wednesday that “it’s time to return security and tranquility to the state, to support young people by promoting sport and to land resources to improve educational infrastructure so that students can receive a quality education.”

In a post on Tuesday, she said “it’s the time for women and we’re moving forward with strength and heart for Chiapas.”

Karla Irazema Muñoz (Citizens Movement)

The third candidate in the Chiapas gubernatorial contest is a former secretary general of the Mexican Society of Producers of Maguey for Pulque and Mezcal.

MC politicians at an event — Candidate Karla Irazema Muñoz with other MC officials. (Karla Irazema Muñoz/FB)

Muñoz also served as president of a citizens’ group called Nueva Esperanza de Paz y Prosperidad para Chiapas (New Hope for Peace and Prosperity for Chiapas). She has a degree in nursing.

🌐📱: In a recent post to her Facebook page, Muñoz asserted that “the south of our country” has been abandoned “for several six-year terms of government.”

In the same post, she said that a government she leads would build “new highway networks” to connect states in southern Mexico, provide support for the farming sector, offer scholarships to athletes and guarantee “quality education” for all children and “young people” in Chiapas.

Who’s going to win?

Polls show that Eduardo Ramírez has a commanding lead over his two rivals. Barring a major upset, he will win on June 2 and Morena will govern Chiapas for another six years.

Voters in Chiapas will also elect 40 state lawmakers and officials including mayors in 123 municipalities.

Guanajuato

Population: 6.2 million.
Capital: Guanajuato
Current governor: Diego Sinhué Rodríguez Vallejo (National Action Party)

Three female candidates are competing to become the next governor of Guanajuato.

In 2018, Guanajuato was the only state in the country where Andrés Manuel López Obrador didn’t win the popular vote in the presidential election.

In recent years, it has been the most violent state in the country in terms of total homicides.

Libia García Muñoz Ledo (PAN-PRI-PRD)

Muñoz was a high ranking official in the current Guanajuato state government, serving as government secretary and minister for social and human development. The 40-year-old was previously a state deputy. A native of León, Muñoz has also worked as a lawyer.

Libia García Muñoz with Xóchitl Gálvez at a rally — Libia García (left) with the PAN-PRI-PRD presidential candidate Xóchitl Gálvez at a rally. (Libia Dennise/X)

🌐📱: “You are going to have a governor close to the causes of the people, who is ready to work for Guanajuato, who will demonstrate what it means to put one’s heart into every action,” says an ad posted to the candidate’s X account.

Muñoz has been campaigning heavily on the PAN’s health care record in Guanajuato.

“In Guanajuato we have the best health care system and we’re going to keep it that way,” she said in a post to X this week.

Alma Alcaraz Hernández (Morena-PT-PVEM)

Alcaraz has served as a federal deputy, and as a state deputy in Guanajuato and Sinaloa, where she grew up. She was affiliated with the PAN for almost two decades before joining Morena in 2015 and going on to become the leader of the party in Guanajuato. She has an accounting degree.

Alma Alcaraz with supporters — Alma Alcaraz used to be a member of the PAN party, before joining Morena in 2015. (Alma Alcaraz/X)

🌐📱: In a post to her X account on Sunday, Alcaraz wrote:

“With a massive vote on June 2 for Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum and all of Morena, Guanajuato will go from rivalry with the federal government to common results.

From insecurity and inequality to shared prosperity. #Let’sGoGuanajuato! You now have the future in your hands.”

Yulma Rocha Aguilar (Citizens Movement)

A recent addition to the Citizens Movement party’s ranks, Rocha has served as a federal deputy for the PRI. She took leave as a state lawmaker to contest the gubernatorial election. A native of Irapuato, Rocha served as a municipal councilor in that city. She has a degree in public administration.

🌐📱: “Guanajuato doesn’t end in the industrial corridor,” she wrote in a post to her X account this week.

“WE NEED to focus on a COMPLETE strategy for municipalities of the northeastern region like San José Iturbide,” Rocha added.

Yulma Rocha with supporters — Yulma Rocha is originally from Irapuato and is running on the Citizens Movement ticket. (Yulma Rocha/X)

“I’m going to take charge of making Guanajuato a SAFE state for women,” the candidate said in another post.

Who’s going to win?

Libia García is ahead of the polls, but Alma Alcaraz isn’t too far behind. Guanajuato has been a PAN stronghold for around three decades (former PAN president Vicente Fox was governor in the late 1990s) and the party will most likely remain in power for the next six years.

Voters in Guanajuato will also elect 36 state state deputies and officials including mayors in all 46 municipalities.

Jalisco

Population: 8.3 million.
Capital: Guadalajara
Current governor: Enrique Alfaro Ramírez (Citizens Movement)

The gubernatorial election in Jalisco is another three-person contest.

Jalisco is Mexico’s second most populous state (after México state) and home to the country’s second city, Guadalajara.

Current Governor Enrique Alfaro Ramírez was touted as a possible presidential candidate for the MC. His predecessor, PRI governor Aristóteles Sandoval, was shot dead in Puerto Vallarta in late 2020.

Pablo Lemus Navarro (Citizens Movement)

Like Governor Alfaro did before him, Lemus is aiming to use the mayorship of Guadalajara as a springboard to the governorship of Jalisco. The 54-year-old Guadalajara native served as mayor of the Jalisco capital from October 2021 to October 2023. Lemus also served as president of the Jalisco branch of the Mexican Employers Federation, and has also worked as a radio presenter.

🌐📱: Lemus has frequently used his X account to share poll results that show he is on track to win the June 2 gubernatorial election in Jalisco.

Pablo Lemus at a press conference — Pablos Lemus (center) was previously the mayor of Guadalajara from 2021 to 2023. (Pablo Lemus/X)

“Jalisco is and will continue being orange [MC’s political color] because the jaliscienses know what is best for our state and trust our team and project,” he wrote on X on Thursday above an image showing that he has a nine-point lead over the Morena candidate, according to a recent newspaper poll.

Earlier this week, Lemus sought to portray himself as a champion of women.

“I’ve always felt profound respect and admiration for women. … We’ll continue working side by side to provide them the support and opportunities they deserve,” he wrote on X.

Claudia Delgadillo González (Morena-PT-PVEM)

Delgadillo has served as a state and federal deputy, and as a councilor in the municipal government of Guadalajara. She was affiliated with the PRI before joining Morena. The tapatía, or Guadalajara native, completed a law degree at the University of Guadalajara and has worked as a law professor.

🌐📱: “What we want for Jalisco is wellbeing for everyone,” Delgadillo wrote on her X account on Thursday.

“With education, health and security. The #TrueChange is about to arrive!” she added.

Claudia Delgadillo with Morena president Mario Delgado — The candidate for Morena in Jalisco, Claudia Delgadillo (center), is seen here with Morena party president Mario Delgado. (Claudia Delgadillo/X)

On Wednesday, Delgadillo claimed to be ahead of the other two gubernatorial candidates “in all the serious polls.”

The result of one poll she posted showed she was narrowly leading Lemus.

Laura Haro Ramírez (PAN-PRI-PRD)

Haro took leave as a federal deputy to contest the gubernatorial election in Jalisco for the PAN-PRI-PRD alliance. The 36-year-old has a law degree and served as a councilor in the municipality of Zapopan. She worked as an official in the PRI national executive committee before entering federal Congress in 2021.

🌐📱: On Wednesday, Haro took to her X account to launch an attack on current political leaders in Jalisco.

“In Jalisco, our leaders suffer from an illness that alters their perception of reality and makes them think that everything is ‘well and good.’ Nothing could be further from the truth that we live every day in our state. The good thing is that [the current leaders] are on their way out and they’re going to take their frivolity far away from our people,” she wrote.

In another post, Haro said that a government she leads will be one “of solutions, not promises.”

“I have the will and the conviction to give Jalisco the leader it deserves,” she added.

Who’s going to win?

The gubernatorial election in Jalisco looks set to be a close race between Lemus and Delgadillo, but the former will most likely prevail.

The “poll of polls” published by the news website Expansión Política currently shows Lemus leading Delgadillo by three points with Haro in a distant third place.

Voters in Jalisco will also elect 38 state deputies and officials including mayors in the state’s 125 municipalities.

Morelos

Population: 2 million
Capital: Cuernavaca
Current governor: Cuauhtémoc Blanco (Morena) – currently on leave as he campaigns for a seat in the lower house of Congress.

Three women are aiming to succeed former soccer star Cuauhtémoc Blanco as governor of Morelos, a small state located to the immediate south of Mexico City. Like many of Mexico’s states, Morelos has had its fair share of security problems. Despite its small population, it was the country’s eighth most violent state last year in terms of total homicides.

Margarita González Saravia (Morena-PT-PVEM)

Morena’s candidate served as minister of tourism and culture for two years in the Morelos government led by Blanco before taking up the position of general director of Mexico’s National Lottery. She has been involved in a number of leftist political groups over the years and was previously affiliated with the PRD.

Margarita González is the Morena candidate for governor in Morelos. (Margarita González/X)

🌐📱: In a campaign ad posted to her X account, González says that a government she leads will implement a program to “attract investment in all sectors.”

In the same ad, she also pledges to establish an “Institute of the Entrepreneur” to “help young people create their own companies.”

“We’re going to strengthen the farming sector, technological development and tourism,” González adds.

Lucía Meza Guzmán (PAN-PRI-PRD)

Meza was elected to the federal Senate on a Morena ticket in 2018, but she quit that party in late 2023 after she wasn’t included in its selection process to find a candidate for the Morelos gubernatorial election. She subsequently joined the PRI and was selected as the candidate for the coalition of which it is part. Meza has also served as a state and federal deputy. She has degrees in public administration and law, and a master’s in public security and public policy.

🌐📱: “In my government, the active participation of civil society will be fundamental to together build a better Morelos,” Meza said in a post to her X account earlier this week.

Lucia Meza, candidate for the PAN-PRI-PRD in Morelos — Lucia Meza was a member of the Morena party until 2023. (Lucia Meza/X)

In another post, she said that a government she leads would create industrial parks that run on clean energy.

“We’ll work hand in hand with industry in Morelos to boost the use of clean technologies,” Meza said.

Jessica Ortega de la Cruz (Citizens Movement)

Ortega has served as a federal and state deputy and held a number of administrative roles within Citizens Movement. The 45-year-old native of the Morelos municipality of Jiutepec has been a member of MC for over 25 years. She has undergraduate and master’s degrees in law.

Jessica Ortega talks to a supporter at an April campaign event in Tepotzlán, Morelos. (Jessica Ortega/Facebook)

🌐📱: “Living with fear is not living,” Ortega said in a post to her X account this week.

“Morelos deserves to leave behind the insecurity crisis that the failed strategies of bad governments have caused. In Citizens Movement, we have a plan to end insecurity and to live free without fear,” she wrote.

In another X post, Ortega said that a government she leads would build new water infrastructure and develop a comprehensive transport plan for the entire state of Morelos.

Who’s going to win?

Polls indicate that the gubernatorial election in Morelos will be a tight contest between González and Meza. The Morena candidate has 48% support while the PAN-PRI-PRD aspirant has 43% support, according to this week’s update to the “poll of polls” published on the Polls.mx website. González’s advantage over Meza has recently narrowed, but at this stage it appears likely that she will win the June 2 election, allowing Morena to continue governing in Morelos.

Voters in Morelos will also elect 20 state deputies and officials including mayors in 33 municipalities.

* Another key contest on June 2 is the Mexico City mayoral election. Read about the candidates contesting that election here, and check out what the polls indicate here.

All of Mexico News Daily’s 2024 elections coverage, including numerous articles on the presidential election, can be found here.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])

Which 10 Mexican cities just broke high temperature records?

By

MND Staff

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May 10, 2024

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Tourists in Puerto Progreso, Yucatán may have gotten more than they bargained for, as city registered temperatures of nearly 45 C. (Martín Zetina/Cuartoscuro)

Mexico City, Mérida and Puebla were among 10 Mexican cities where record high temperatures were recorded on Thursday, according to the federal government.

Germán Martínez Santoyo, director of the National Water Commission (Conagua), posted a government infographic to the X social media platform that showed that the current heat wave has broken temperature records in Mexico City, Toluca, Cuernavaca, Ciudad Victoria, Mérida, Campeche, Progreso, Torreón, Puebla and Querétaro.

A Conagua infographic shows the 10 cities that saw record high temperatures on Thursday. (Germ{an Santoyo/X)

The middle column shows the date of the previous high, while the column on the right shows Thursday’s new record on Thursday.

Points of note:

The previous record high in Mexico City stood for less than a month.
The previous record in Puebla stood for more than three-quarters of a century.
The previous record in Cuernavaca stood for more than three decades.
Ciudad Victoria, the capital of Tamaulipas, was the hottest city in Mexico on Thursday, ahead of Matlapa, San Luis Potosí.
The new temperature record in the Gulf of Mexico port city of Progreso is almost three degrees higher than the previous record.

The Reforma newspaper reported that 16% of Mexico’s automatic meteorological stations recorded temperatures above 40 C (104 F) on Thursday.

On Wednesday, a station in Gallinas, San Luis Potosí recorded the hottest temperature in the country. The mercury soared to an infernal 49.6 C in that community.

How hot has it been where you live? Let us know in the comments.

With reports from Reforma

DEA threat assessment finds Mexican cartel activity in every US state

By

MND Staff

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May 10, 2024

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Mexican authorities remove fentanyl pills, methamphetamine and cocaine from a drug lab found in Culiacán, Sinaloa, in February. (FGR/Cuartoscuro)

The Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) have a presence in every state of the United States and “have caused the worst drug crisis in U.S. history,” according to a new report from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

In its National Drug Threat Assessment (NDTA) 2024 report, the DEA describes the rival cartels as “the main criminal organizations in Mexico, and the most dangerous.”

“They control clandestine drug production sites and transportation routes inside Mexico and smuggling corridors into the United States and maintain large network ‘hubs’ in U.S. cities along the Southwest Border and other key locations across the United States,” the report says.

The DEA drug threat assessment notes that the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG are also involved in “arms trafficking, money laundering, migrant smuggling, sex trafficking, bribery, extortion, and a host of other crimes” and “have a global reach extending into strategic transportation zones and profitable drug markets in Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania.”

In the United States — the world’s largest market for illicit drugs — “the scope of the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels’ control over each segment of the criminal drug trade has effectively eliminated any competition in U.S. markets, and enabled cartel members to establish a presence in every U.S. state,” the report says.

Included in the report is a map that shows the varying levels of Mexican cartel presence in the U.S.

Cartel presence in the United States, DEA map from the recent drug threat assessment — The report included a map showing relative levels of cartel presence across the United States. (U.S. DEA)

States shaded in dark blue to indicate a greater cartel presence include the border states of California, Arizona and Texas as well as Illinois, Florida and New York.

The DEA says that “together, the Sinaloa and Jalisco cartels have caused the worst drug crisis in U.S. history,” adding that they “dictate the flow of nearly all illicit drugs into the United States.”

“Their dominance over the synthetic drug trade in particular is evident in the relentless stream of illicit fentanyl and methamphetamine crossing the border toward U.S. markets,” the agency adds.

In a letter included in the report, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram says that the Sinaloa Cartel and the CJNG “rely on chemical companies and pill press companies in China to supply the precursor chemicals and pill presses needed to manufacture the drugs.”

“They operate clandestine labs in Mexico where they manufacture these drugs, and then utilize their vast distribution networks to transport the drugs into the United States. They rely on associates in the United States to distribute the drugs at a retail level on the streets and on social media,” she wrote.

“Finally, the Cartels utilize Chinese money laundering organizations to move their profits from the United States back to Mexico.”

Milgram outlines the DEA’s efforts to combat Mexican cartels, including “enforcement operations such as Operation Overdrive, which targets violent individuals in our communities, and Operation OD Justice, which partners with local law enforcement to
investigate fatal drug poisonings.”

DEA Administrator Anne Milgram highlighted DEA enforcement activities in a letter included in the report. (DEA/Facebook)

The cartels’ reach into U.S. communities

The DEA says that “thousands of Sinaloa and Jalisco cartel-linked drug dealers in the United States bring illicit fentanyl, methamphetamine, and other drugs into American communities every day.”

“A web of illicit drug wholesalers, only one step removed from the cartels in Mexico, operate in major cities throughout the United States,” the agency adds.

“… Smaller branches of the cartels spread the drugs further, often using social media
platforms and messaging applications to advertise their deadly products and recruit couriers and dealers.”

The report says that fentanyl made by Mexican cartels is “the main driver behind the ongoing epidemic of drug poisoning deaths in the United States.”

It also says that fentanyl is much more profitable for the cartels than heroin.

“Unlike fentanyl, heroin is a traditional plant-based opioid (derived from the opium poppy). Crop-based drugs are time consuming and expensive to produce. … Fentanyl can be produced continuously, quickly, and efficiently, unimpeded by the challenges and risks associated with heroin production,” the report says.

The leadership structure of the Sinaloa Cartel

The NDTA report states that the Sinaloa Cartel “does not have a leader.”

Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán’s four sons, nicknamed “Los Chapitos,” run one branch of the Sinaloa Cartel. Ovidio Guzmán, second from the left, was extradited to the U.S. in September 2023.

“Instead, the cartel ‘umbrella’ covers four separate but cooperating criminal organizations,” the DEA says.

“This structure,” the agency says “theoretically gives the heads of the independent
drug trafficking groups the ability to share resources — like smuggling routes, corrupt contacts, access to illicit chemical suppliers and money laundering networks — without sharing profits or having to answer to a main chain of command.”

“In reality, however, internal power struggles and fluctuating alliances leave the viability of the ‘umbrella model’ in question,” the DEA adds.

It says that the four separate criminal organizations are directed by:

Los Chapitos: the collective name for Iván Guzmán Salazar, Alfredo Guzmán Salazar,
Joaquín Guzmán López, and Ovidio Guzmán López — sons of imprisoned drug lord and former Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán Loera.

(Ovidio Guzmán was arrested in early 2023 and extradited to the United States last September.)

Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García: A co-head of the Sinaloa Cartel for more than three decades.
Aureliano “El Guano” Guzmán Loera: Brother of “El Chapo.”
Rafael Caro Quintero: A notorious drug lord who was arrested in July 2022.

Since Caro Quintero’s arrest, “Los Chapitos have been fighting his organization (known as the Caborca Cartel) for control of the Sonora desert region, a crucial trafficking route through the Mexican state of Sonora to the Arizona border,” the report says.

The leadership structure of the CJNG

A CJNG gunman — CJNG “franchisees” are free to choose their own methods, within the guidelines provided by organization leadership, the DEA reported. (Especial/Cuartoscuro)

The DEA says that the Jalisco cartel “operates under a franchise business model.”

“The cartel is overseen by Ruben “El Mencho” Oseguera Cervantes, and a small group of top-tier commanders who report directly to El Mencho. A second tier of regional and ‘plaza’ bosses operate under the top tier leaders,” the report says.

The DEA states that the franchise model allows “each semi-independent group to customize its operations according to specific areas of expertise (for example, running clandestine methamphetamine labs) or market demands, provided they comply with naming, branding, and organizational structure requirements, and follow the general direction handed down by Jalisco Cartel leadership.”

It also says that the franchise model allows the CJNG to expand quickly as new franchises are “easy to establish.”

“The Jalisco Cartel also maximizes their revenue through this model, because leadership does not pay the operating costs of its franchises but does collect a percentage of overall profits,” the report says.

“One of the key weaknesses of the franchise model, however, is that individual franchise groups operating under the Jalisco Cartel name can form their own unique alliances with other criminal groups, some of which are in direct opposition to the alliances of other franchises,” says the DEA.

Mexico News Daily

‘The Mexican Slang Dictionary,’ a book that picks up where your Spanish class left off

By

MND Staff

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May 10, 2024

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Some of the vocabulary used in casual settings like this Mexico City pulquería might not be words you can find in the official Royal Academy of Spanish dictionary. (Enrique Ordoñez/Cuartoscuro)

“That morro I met at the pachanga is really fresa!”

Does that Spanglish sentence mean anything to you?

What about this one?

“Me enchilé cabrón at the taco stand near my chamba.”

If your answers are no and no, and you’re interested in learning colloquial Mexican Spanish — or increasing your current repertoire — “The Mexican Slang Dictionary” is the book for you.

Compiled by Mexico-based British journalist Alasdair Baverstock, the pocket-sized dictionary contains hundreds of Mexican slang (and swear) words and colloquial phrases along with their equivalents in English.

It also has a section on albures, a form of (often sexual) word play that involves the humorous use of double entendres.

Here are a few of the entries:

Chulada

A beautiful, or high quality, thing or action.

e.g. “Su gol era una chulada.”

He scored a beautiful goal.

¿Jalas?

Informal and colloquial way of asking if a person will join you in your plans.

e.g. “Vamos al bar. ¿Jalas?”

We’re going to the bar. Are you coming?

Nini

A person who is lazy or work-shy. Comes from the phrase “Ni trabaja, ni estudia” — Neither works, nor studies.

Alasdair, a video journalist for Chinese broadcaster CGTN and erstwhile contributor to Mexico News Daily, explains in the forward to his dictionary that his Mexican slang compilation began as a “whimsical addition” to his professional website.

In January 2020, “half-way through a reporting trip to Oaxaca’s Istmo de Tehuantepec I found my notebook filled with phrases from interviews I could not understand,” he writes.

“… Henceforth, I noted down every piece of slang and jargon I came across and added them [to my online dictionary] alongside my own wording for their definitions. … In my trips across the country, and in speaking to Mexicans of all backgrounds, the dictionary quickly grew,” Alasdair says.

“… It has been thanks to the generosity, good humor and national pride of the Mexican people that the dictionary exists at all.”

“The Mexican Slang Dictionary” can be purchased on Amazon for 149 pesos. It is also available at Under the Volcano Books, located in the Condesa neighborhood of Mexico City.

A word of warning: the dictionary includes some extremely colorful — read potentially offensive — words or phrases.

Finally, in case you were wondering, the two sentences at the top of this article could read as follows in colloquial English.

That guy I met at the shindig is really snobby.
I burned my mouth big time at the taco stand near my work.

As you probably know, salsas — like Mexican Spanish — can be very picante (spicy/risqué) indeed.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies ([email protected])

International tourism to Mexico increased over 10% annually in March

By

MND Staff

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May 10, 2024

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Mexican and international tourists enjoy the white sand beaches of Islas Mujeres, in April. — Domestic and international tourists enjoy the white sand beaches of Islas Mujeres, in April. (Elizabeth Ruiz/Cuartoscuro)

With the Holy Week vacation period falling entirely in March for the first time in eight years, Mexico’s tourism sector reaped the rewards as it continues to bounce back from the industry-wide slump caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mexico’s national statistics agency INEGI reported this week that 7,599,703 visitors entered the country in March, a healthy 10.8% improvement over the same month in 2023. Of those visitors, 4.1 million were international tourists, up 10.6% from 3.7 million in March 2023.

How much money do international tourists spend in Mexico?

The increase in numbers brought with it an 11.3% rise in spending by the visitors, though this was primarily fueled by the greater number of visitors, as average spending-per-tourist (just over US $458) was only 0.5% higher than in March 2023.

March tourism revenues were also significantly higher than those recorded in February (US $3.18 billion) which included a Leap Day this year, but average spending-per-tourist was an impressive US $479 during the second month of the year.

The INEGI data reveals that international and national tourists spent a total of US $3.5 billion in March this year, an 11.3% increase over the same month a year ago when US $3.1 billion was spent by tourists in Mexico.

Tourists spending increased 11.3% over March 2023. (Daniel Augusto/Cuartoscuro)

Of that total, international tourists spent US $3.26 billion, a 10.8% increase over March 2023 when travelers from abroad spent US $2.8 billion in Mexico.

INEGI broke down the revenue figures even further: Tourists who spent at least one night in Mexico spent an average of US $1,119.77 per person, with those arriving by air spending US $1,222.22 per person and those arriving by vehicle spending just US $304.85 per person. Visitors who crossed the border for a day trip spent an average of US $106.75.

Mexico on the rise as a global tourism destination

The inflow of tourists continues an upward trend that saw more than 42 million international tourists visit Mexico in 2023, a 10% increase over 2022. During the first three months of 2024, 11,221,562 international tourists traveled to Mexico, a nearly 7% increase over the 10,498,230 international visitors who arrived in Mexico from January-March 2023.

According to Travel + Leisure, Mexico was the 7th most-visited country in the world in 2023, behind France, the United States, Spain, China, Italy and Turkey. The United Nations reported in December 2023 that global tourism numbers had recovered by 90% since the onset of the pandemic in 2020.

With reports from Forbes México, Infobae and La Jornada

Semiconductor manufacturer Micron Technology coming to Guadalajara

By

MND Staff

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May 10, 2024

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Microchip maker Micron Technology is based out of Boise, Idaho — Micron Technology expects to create 100 local jobs at its new engineering and operations center in Guadalajara. (Micron Technology/Facebook)

Just six weeks after Mexico and the United States announced an initiative to “grow and diversify the global semiconductor ecosystem,” the agreement is already paying dividends.

This week, Idaho-based Micron Technology announced plans to establish a semiconductor engineering center in Guadalajara with the expectation of hiring 100 employees by the end of this year.

The core objective of the Mexico-U.S. semiconductor initiative is to consolidate the development and production of semiconductor technology in the two countries. It included a US $6.14 billion subsidy from the U.S. Department of Commerce to Micron Technology.

Micron’s selection of Guadalajara will boost the region’s technology ecosystem and allow for collaborative opportunities with local universities while also cultivating the next generation of engineering and technology professionals.

The new facility will be the first headquarters in Latin America for Micron, which produces computer memory and computer data storage including dynamic random-access memory, flash memory and USB flash drives.

Mexico’s strategic location and its numerous international trade agreements were factors in the company’s decision to open a facility in Mexico, especially as the U.S. government seeks to reduce reliance on China and Taiwan for chips.

Micron Technology's Boise, Idaho headquarters — Micron received a US $6.14 billion subsidy from the U.S. Department of Commerce as part of a new bilateral semiconductor initiative. (micron.com)

Brian Callaway, the country manager for Micron in Mexico, spoke to Expansión magazine about the move to Mexico. “As we ramp up manufacturing in the United States, we need to maintain product innovation and that’s where our new site in Guadalajara enters the picture. It will be critical in developing solutions for next generation products,” he said.

Micron’s facility in Mexico will focus on developing products for memory solutions oriented toward fortifying the latest Artificial Intelligence tools, Callaway said.

Scott DeBoer, executive vice president of technology and products at Micron, praised Mexico’s experience in the semiconductor sector. “Mexico has a strong business ecosystem that encompasses technology and the semiconductor industry and also has an extremely talented labor force,” he said. “The engineering center and its operations in Mexico will complement Micron’s product engineering efforts in North America.”

April Arnzen, Micron’s executive vice president and personnel director, spoke highly of the Mexican labor force, saying it will “reinforce Micron’s leadership and innovation,” citing the performance of local hires at other technology companies such as Intel which also has a design center in Guadalajara.

With reports from Expansión, El Economista and Mexico Business News

Heat wave turns deadly, with deaths in at least 3 states this week

By

MND Staff

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May 10, 2024

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Mexico's second heat wave of the year swept across the country starting on May 3. (Windy.com)

The heat wave currently afflicting large parts of Mexico isn’t just uncomfortable for tens of millions of people — for some, it’s also deadly.

Heat-related deaths have been reported in at least three states this week, while hot weather had claimed seven lives across the country by May 4, according to the federal Health Ministry.

In the Huasteca region of San Luis Potosí, 10 people died with symptoms of hyperthermia between Wednesday and Thursday, according to a report by the La Jornada newspaper that cited local Red Cross and Civil Protection sources. Another person reportedly succumbed to a heat-related illness in Ciudad Fernández, located east of San Luis Potosí city.

The Husateca region of San Luis Potosí has recorded extremely high temperatures this week. La Jornada reported that Tamuín, the municipality where six of the deaths occurred, reached 52 C on Thursday. That appeared to be a reference to the apparent, or “feels like,” temperature, known in Spanish as sensación térmica.

In Veracruz, one person succumbed to a heat-related illness last weekend, according to a report by Diario de Xalapa. The newspaper said that a truck driver passed away in the municipality of San Juan Evangelista after showing signs of dehydration. “He received support from paramedics but didn’t manage to survive,” Diario de Xalapa said.

The newspaper also reported heat-related deaths in Papantla on May 3, the day the current heat wave began, and Minatitlán last month. Neither of those deaths were included in the Health Ministry’s latest “extreme natural temperatures” report, although they occurred before the May 4 cutoff date.

Street vendors and other outdoor workers are particularly at risk for heat-related illness. (Gabriela Pérez Montiel/Cuartoscuro)

In the neighboring state of Oaxaca, an 8-year-old boy died of apparent heatstroke, according to health official Ignacio Zárate Blas. He said that the boy from the Papaloapan region of the state arrived at hospital with symptoms of dehydration and that it is believed that he died of heatstroke. However, Zárate noted that the boy was also suffering from “some accompanying ailments.”

Oaxaca Health Minister Alma Lilia Velasco Hernández reported on Monday that two young men — one aged 18, the other 25 — had died of severe dehydration. Both were treated in hospital but were unable to recover. The 18-year-old was from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region, while the older man was from the Costa region of Oaxaca and worked as a street vendor.

Parts of Oaxaca have recorded temperatures in excess of 40 C this week.

Health Ministry: 7 heat-related deaths before May 4

In a report published Thursday, the Health Ministry said that a total of 337 cases of heat-related illnesses and seven deaths were recorded between the March 17 commencement of “the present hot season” and May 4.

Tabasco recorded the highest number of heat-related deaths with four, while there were two fatalities in Oaxaca and one in Chiapas. The deaths were all attributed to heatstroke.

Two of the four deaths in Tabasco occurred in early May, both in the municipality of Huimanguillo, which borders Veracruz and Chiapas.

Bottles of Mexican electrolyte replacement drink Electrolit — Multiple deaths were attributed to dehydration. (File photo)

It was unclear why the heat-related deaths in Veracruz in April and on May 3 were not included in the latest report. They — and the deaths reported this week — may show up in next week’s report if state authorities convey the information to their federal counterparts.

The heat-related illnesses reported by the Health Ministry included cases of heatstroke, dehydration and sunburn. Heatstroke accounted for almost two-thirds of the cases while most of the remainder were cases of dehydration.

There were more heat-related deaths, and more cases of heat-related illnesses this year than at the same time in the previous four years. By early May last year, there had been three heat-related deaths and 267 cases of illness.

However, the heat-related death toll subsequently soared to reach a total of 421 in 2023, a figure 10 times that of 2022.

This year’s “hot season” will conclude Oct. 5, according to the Health Ministry.

With reports from Diario de Xalapa, La Jornada, Milenio, El Heraldo de Tabasco and Proceso

What is life like for working moms in Mexico?

By

MND Staff

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May 10, 2024

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A family of women of different ages with a young child — Mexico goes all-in on celebrating Mother's Day, but what is the day to day reality for working mothers in the country? (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

The idea of a traditional family, where the husband is the provider and the wife stays at home with the kids, is increasingly changing in Mexico.

While low-income mothers have been historically forced to work to provide for their families, in middle and upper-class Mexican society, a woman was not expected to work once she became a mother. And if she did work, she would either be regarded with sympathy for not having a husband that could provide for her, or judged for leaving her kids at daycare when she didn’t need to.

Families gather in a restaurant to celebrate Mother's Day in Mexico, in 2022. — Families gather in a Polanco restaurant to celebrate Mother’s Day in 2022. (Mario Jasso/Cuartoscuro)

And this was just a few years ago.

A personal experience of Mexican motherhood

I grew up in that environment and went to an all-girls Catholic private school where only a handful of my classmates’ mothers worked. My mom was amongst that minority, working in the family business and encouraging us to go on to professional careers.

In school, we were taught that we could be anything we liked. Some of the teachers were even other students’ moms. But at the same time, whether from school or society, we would receive another message: once you become a mother, you should prioritize motherhood and wifely duties over a career.

It took some time for this perspective to change. Today, it is now acceptable for women in well off families to choose to either work or stay at home — both honorable and respectable choices. And those who choose to work are now less judged (though let’s face it, a working mom will always receive some amount of judgment anywhere in the world).

What is working life like for mothers in Mexico?

The increasing incorporation of Mexican mothers in the work field is seen in the latest report from the National Occupation and Employment Survey (ENOE) carried out by the National Institute of Geography and Statistics (INEGI). The survey shows that until 2023, more than 70% of women in the workforce in Mexico were mothers.

This means that 17 million women in the workforce have at least one child.

Meanwhile, a 2023 survey by job search platform OCCM found that more than 90% of registered companies employ mothers. In 29% of those companies, more than half of their staff were moms.

Other indicators that show the acceptance of mothers in the workplace include the increasing number of mothers in leadership positions. Just take a look at this year’s election — the two front-runner candidates are mothers. The head of Tesla in México, Teresa Guitérrez Smith, is the mother of four children.

Separate images of Xochitl Galvez and Claudia Sheinbaum speaking at podiums shown side by side — Both frontrunners for the Mexican Presidency in this year’s election are mothers, a sign of changing attitudes in the country. (Cuartoscuro/MND)

These examples reflect how the perception of working mothers has changed into a more acceptable idea amongst Mexican families.

While we should celebrate the change of perspective towards being a working mom in Mexico, working mothers still face numerous challenges.

In its survey, INEGI found that of the total of mothers in the workforce, 3.3 million (19%) work more than 48 hours a week. The survey also revealed that the biggest challenge for most respondents was finding a work-life balance.

These are not the only issues working mothers currently face however:

Lifestyle

In Mexico, life is still designed for families where the father is the sole provider, and the mother looks after the kids.

For instance, kids’ birthday parties are all during the weekday — usually from 4 to 7 p.m. Mothers are expected take their children to the parties, not the fathers. Weekend mornings are usually destined for first communions, to which mothers are also expected to take the kids unless the invitation explicitly invites fathers.

School meetings also happen during the working week during working hours. Festivals, parent-teacher meetings and other events, all take place mid-morning.

Domestic chores

On top of that, women carry most of the responsibility of chores at home.

A Mexican woman preparing food — Mothers in Mexico still do the bulk of domestic work, on top of their careers. (Juan Pablo Zamora Pérez/Cuartoscuro)

A 2022 INEGI survey found that overall, working moms spend 76.8 hours of their week between work, household chores and caring for a member of their family (young or old). This figure is almost nine more hours than men.

Childcare

Access to affordable daycare is also a significant challenge.

According to the OCC, about 40% of mothers get help from a family member, 23% leave their children in daycare or school, and only 15% have the support of their partner to share the responsibility. Another 10% hire someone to babysit their children, and 15% say they have no support.

Maternity leave in Mexico

Maternity leave is a major issue for working mothers and requires urgent addressing.

The current standard of 12 weeks of paid leave falls short of the 14 weeks recommended by the International Labor Organization. According to OCCM, 17% of surveyed mothers said their employers didn’t comply with this period. As a result, they were required to work during their maternity leave or to return to work before it ended.

A Mexican mother feeds her baby at a roadside stall — Many mothers in Mexico cannot afford to remain out of work. (Edgar Negrete/Cuartoscuro)

To address this, Congress has reformed the Social Security Law (IMSS). The law now allows mothers to move up to four of the six weeks of their leave prior to childbirth to after the birth. However, this measure is insufficient to relieve pressure from working mothers and to provide much needed bonding time with their newborns.

As a society, we have made progress in eliminating the stigma of being a working mother. However, there are still challenges to overcome. On one hand, employers and policymakers should collaborate to provide more flexible working hours, affordable childcare, and longer maternity leave. On the other hand, partners should take on more household responsibilities and society should shift towards a lifestyle that acknowledges working mothers.

Gabriela Solis is a Mexican lawyer turned full-time writer. She was born and raised in Guadalajara and covers business, culture, lifestyle and travel for Mexico News Daily. You can follow her lifestyle blog Dunas y Palmeras.

Peso strengthens against US dollar after Bank of Mexico maintains interest rate

By

MND Staff

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May 10, 2024

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Facade of the Bank of Mexico building — The governing board of the Bank of Mexico met on Thursday and decided to keep the key rate at 11%. (Cuartoscuro)

After weakening in April to well above 17 to the US dollar, the Mexican peso has recovered significantly and reached its strongest position so far this month on Friday morning.

Bloomberg data shows that the peso appreciated to 16.72 to the greenback on Friday morning before weakening slightly.

Shortly after 10 a.m. Mexico City time, the peso was trading at 16.77 to the dollar.

The peso has appreciated more than 2% in May after ending April at 17.14 to the dollar. It closed last Friday at 16.97.

The currency appreciated on Thursday and Friday after the Bank of Mexico (Banxico) announced that its governing board had decided to leave the central bank’s benchmark interest rate unchanged at 11%.

For an extended period, the peso has benefited from the large difference between Banxico’s key interest rate and that of the United States Federal Reserve, currently set at 5.25%-5.5%.

Janneth Quiroz, head of analysis at the Monex financial group, noted on the X social media platform that the differential between the two rates remained at 550 basis points, which she described as a “a very attractive level” for investors.

In a note, Monex said that the peso on Friday morning “extended its advance from the previous session after Banxico decided to maintain the interest rate without changes” and made an upward adjustment to its inflation outlook.

The bank is now forecasting that inflation won’t come down to its 3% target until the final quarter of 2025. It previously predicted it would reach that level in the second quarter of next year.

Monex said that the changed inflation outlook indicates that the broad differential between interest rates in Mexico and the United States will continue for longer than previously expected.

The peso has also benefited from strong incoming flows of foreign investment and remittances. Early last month, it appreciated to 16.30 to the dollar, the currency’s strongest position since August 2015.

The peso weakened later in April due to a range of factors including an increase in aversion to international risk amid ongoing conflicts including the war between Israel and Hamas.

With reports from Expansión and Radio Fórmula

The best wellness retreats in Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit

By

Meagan Drillinger

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May 10, 2024

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Woman in pool — Slow down and recharge in some of Mexico's best luxury wellness retreats. (La Joya Sayulita/Facebook)

Long gone are the days when travelers would flock to Mexico for endless tequila shots and open swim-up bars. Okay, well, maybe not long gone — but those days are few and far between. Wellness is one of the driving forces behind travel these days, and it shows no signs of slowing down. Wellness tourism is expected to hit $1.3 trillion by 2025, according to the Global Wellness Institute.

Health tourism these days is so much more than a yoga class and a green juice. People are paying much more attention to what they put into their bodies than ever before. According to surveys conducted by NCSolutions, a joint venture data analysis project between Nielsen and Catalina, 61 percent of Gen Zers say they plan to cut back on their alcohol consumption in 2024. Gen Z isn’t the only generation that is sober-curious. In the same survey, Millennials also said they would drink less in 2024. Forty-nine percent of Millennials are sober-curious for the new year, an increase of 26 percent from those surveyed a year before. Overall, 41 percent of all Americans plan to drink less in 2024.

Fitness fanatics from across the world flock to Mexico for their dose of wellness. (Bikini Bootcamp)

Mexico’s central Pacific Coast, particularly along the coasts of Jalisco and Nayarit, has long established itself as a health and wellness destination. The jungle-wrapped peaks of the Sierra Madre mountains, the crashing Pacific coastline, and an abundance of wildlife create quite the idyllic backdrop for a wellness journey. An entire range of accommodation styles also helps travelers across most budgets.

So where are the best destinations in and around Puerto Vallarta and Riviera Nayarit for a wellness retreat? Here are the ones that have our attention.

La Joya, Sayulita

While Sayulita may be perceived as the coastal capital for yogis, travelers need to be discerning when choosing the right spot in this boho beach town. These days, the tiny village once sought out for a low-key lifestyle has become so overrun with tourists that it can be a logistical nightmare to travel there. That said, the boutique hotel and retreat, La Joya, is far enough outside of the heart of Sayulita that it can tap into the natural beauty of the destination while managing to evade the throngs of visitors.

This new concept wellness hotel and retreat space is all about holistic wellbeing made up of bungalows, casitas, villas, and a main casa. Decked out in natural materials, like parota woods, woven textiles, clay, stone, ceramics, and even a thatched palapa or two, the spaces were designed to evoke that luxury aesthetic that has become synonymous with Mexico’s beach towns. The space hosts a series of retreats throughout the year, from yoga and healing circles to community and connection. Guests have a direct view of the Pacific Ocean from the resort, without having to deal with the crowds or overwhelming energy of Sayulita proper. An onsite restaurant, Tekuamana, incorporates organic, local, and wild ingredients into all of its menu items — paired with creative mocktails for those who are staying dry.

Mar de Jade

Further up the coast in the small, lesser-known beach town of Chacala, Mar de Jade is a yoga, wellness, and retreat center that is cushioned between the thick jungle of northern Nayarit and the Pacific Ocean. The boutique resort sits directly on the shores of Playa Chacala and offers guests a swimming pool and Jacuzzi, shaded by thick groves of banana trees and bushy bunches of explosive bougainvillea flowers.

Mar de Jade has been offering yoga, meditation, and movement retreats for more than three decades, but is most famous for its Buddhist retreats that it holds periodically throughout the year. They offer a weeklong summer Chan Retreat, as well as a Zen Rohatsu Retreat in the winter. The Silent Zen Meditation Retreat, held once a year, is one of its most sought-after experiences. Whether you’re part of a retreat itinerary or not, the experience at Mar de Jade is relaxed and therapeutic, serving ingredients from its 17-acre organic farm and with plenty of opportunity to get involved with its volunteer and community projects.

Susurros del Corazon

For well-heeled travelers who want to swap a rustic vibe for five-star elegance (and a much higher price tag) the new Susurros del Corazon in Punta Mita is a veritable realm of relaxation, taking the luxury spa concept to entirely new vibrational levels. The ONDA, an Auberge spa has everything you’d expect from a five-star wellness center, including hydrotherapy and a sprawling fitness center. However, ONDA is so much more than that, offering guided sunset meditations, intuitive expression painting classes, in-water sound vibrations, and many other holistic and spiritually guided experiences. The spa also has a dedicated Good Vibrations Cafe, serving farro bowls, salads, juices, and more.

Equilibrium Healing Resort and Spa

As Highway 200 snakes its way south of Puerto Vallarta and up into the mountains past the small village of Boca de Tomatlan, you find yourself surrounded by lush, tropical forest. A spine of mountains ripples out as far as the eye can see. The buzz and energy from the resorts and restaurants on the Malecon fade into the distance and it’s nothing but you, the trees, and the wind. Here is where you’ll find Equilibrium, a wellness resort nestled among the mountains. Here travelers can partake in one of the many wellness programs that Equilibrium offers. Choose from programs like Detox, Rejuvenate, Relax, and Full Reset — each one tailored and personalized to your specific needs and goals. Equilibrium hosts many private retreats, as well, from yoga and Ayurveda to lessons on self-love and self-care.

Careyes

Carved into the coves and secret bays of the Costalegre, south of Puerto Vallarta, Careyes is a colorful, creative community that sits far out of the spotlight. Those who know Careyes have been “in the know” for years, and want to protect their beloved community from over-tourism and over-hype. The discretion of the Careyes community is why it has quietly drawn celebrities, government officials, and other VIPs looking to keep a low profile since the late 1960s.

Part of the magic of Careyes comes from its energy, where its casitas and villas have all been designed with the natural flow of the environment in mind. Living spaces are open-air to allow for immersion into the elements. The sound of the ocean, explosive sunsets, and blankets of stars are all part of the daily routine. Careyes is not a traditional resort. It’s a living community, and its residents and guests have a pension for holistic lifestyles and wellness. It’s easy to see why when you see the raw, natural beauty of this part of Mexico. Careyes hosts retreats regularly, and will frequently schedule sound baths, cacao ceremonies, yoga, and healing meditations.

Coming Soon: Six Senses Xala

Still under development, Xala promises to revolutionize the wellness retreat game in Mexico. (Xala)

Costalegre is in the process of developing a massive $1 billion project, which is slowly opening in phases over the next few years. Known as Xala, the impressive design will feature luxurious rancho-style residences, an abundance of five-star facilities, a deeply entrenched environmental and community development program for local villages, and a Six Senses resort.

Six Senses Xala is slated to open in 2026, flanked by five miles of curving white-sand beach. Fifty-one bungalow-style accommodations will feature private pools and a village-like architectural design that will be both playful and luxurious. Six Senses as a brand is rooted in wellness, and Six Senses Xala will be no different. The Spa will be a retreat in itself for treatments and multi-day wellness programs.

Meagan Drillinger is a New York native who has spent the past 15 years traveling around and writing about Mexico. While she’s on the road for assignments most of the time, Puerto Vallarta is her home base. Follow her travels on Instagram at @drillinjourneys or through her blog at drillinjourneys.com.