Enrique Peña Nieto, the former Mexican president, is remembered as a controversial leader who implemented sweeping economic and social reforms that reshaped the nation. However, his presidency was marked by allegations of corruption and questionable decisions. In this article, we will explore the reforms, corruption, and controversies associated with President Peña Nieto.
Background on Enrique Peña Nieto
Enrique Peña Nieto was born on 20th July 1966, in Atlacomulco, Mexico, and is a Mexican politician who served as President of Mexico from 2012 to 2018. He was the president of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) when he declared his candidacy for the 2012 Mexican Presidential Election and won. He has also served as Governor of the State of Mexico from 2005 to 2011.
Reforms Under Peña Nieto
During his presidency, Peña Nieto enacted a series of reforms to improve the Mexican economy and society, allowing Mexico to become more competitive and reduce its dependence on the US.
Energy Reform
One of the most significant reforms signed by President Peña Nieto was the 2013 Energy Reform law, which opened the energy sector up to private investors and ended Pemex’s 75-year monopoly. This allowed for increased competition, investment and technological innovation in the sector, and enabled Mexico to reduce its reliance on foreign energy sources.
Education Reforms
President Peña Nieto also implemented sweeping education reforms in 2013. He has implemented a new evaluation system for teachers in order to assess their performance and also implemented a performance-based wage system. He also increased funding for schools in disadvantaged areas and focused on improving school infrastructure and providing grants to low-income students in order to encourage them to stay in school.
Telecommunications Reforms
In 2013, Peña Nieto enacted reforms in the telecommunications sector, relaxings restrictions on broadcasting, internet, radio and television services. This allowed for greater competition in the industry and improved access to services, particularly in rural areas.
Financial Reforms
In addition to these reforms, Peña Nieto also enacted financial reforms, including reducing red tape, simplifying taxes, eliminating subsidies for state-owned companies, and replacing the universal savings program that had been put in place by his predecessor with a new pension system. This allowed Mexico to reduce its debt and foreign investment increased, resulting in GDP growth during the latter part of his tenure.
Corruption Allegations Against Peña Nieto
President Peña Nieto was dogged by allegations of corruption throughout his tenure in office. In 2014, Peña Nieto’s wife was linked to a $7 million luxury home, which raised questions about their finances. The former president denied any involvement in the purchase, but the scandal cast a shadow over his government.
In addition, in 2015, it was revealed that the Mexican government had awarded a $3.7 billion high-speed railway contract to a Chinese-led consortium, despite the fact that the terms of the contract favoured the Chinese investors. The scandal deepened when it was revealed that the lead investor had close ties to Peña Nieto’s wife and a former finance minister.
Controversy Surrounding Peña Nieto
Peña Nieto’s presidency was marked by a number of controversial decisions which sparked protests and criticism from both within and outside the country.
The Case of the Missing 43 Students
The most notable case of controversy during Peña Nieto’s tenure was the disappearance of 43 students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers’ College in Guerrero in 2014. The students were allegedly abducted by local police and handed over to a drug cartel, but the government failed to take effective action to locate the missing students and a full investigation into the matter was never launched. The lack of response from the government sparked public outrage and demonstrations and critical coverage from the international media.
Yardely’s Rape Case
Another scandal that attracted international attention was the case of a 17-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by four police officers in Mexico City in 2015, allegedly in retaliation for her father’s reports of corruption by the officers. Peña Nieto was criticised for not responding quickly enough to the case and for downplaying the incident.
President Enrique Peña Nieto implemented a series of significant economic and social reforms during his tenure, which allowed Mexico to become more competitive and reduce its reliance on foreign sources. However, his presidency was also marred by allegations of corruption and questionable decisions which sparked protests and criticism from both within and outside the country.
