Esthela Damián resigns to compete for Guerrero

A close collaborator leaves the federal government to seek the governorship of Guerrero. Sheinbaum already has a name for the replacement.

An outing with the smell of a campaign

This Wednesday, Claudia Sheinbaum broke the news in her morning: Esthela Damián Peralta leaves the Legal Department of the federal government. The reason, according to the president, is that she wants to go to work in Guerrero. And of course, you cannot be in the cabinet and compete for governorship at the same time.

“…told him that he should leave the Legal Department before competing for the 2027 elections ‘because you can’t do both’.”

His resignation is effective April 30. Just in time to end the month, as Sheinbaum requested. How convenient.

RelatedSheinbaum appoints Esthela Damián as federal legal advisor

Who is the one leaving?

Damián Peralta is not just any official. She is one of the president’s closest collaborators. He had only been in charge of the Legal Department for four months, that key position that gives legal viability to presidential decisions.

Her career is close to that of Sheinbaum: she was his private secretary when she was head of Government of CDMX, she coordinated the defense of the vote in the presidential campaign and was even undersecretary of Security. It’s from the inner circle.

Now he sets his sights on Guerrero for 2027. A classic political move: leave the government in time to assemble the state machinery.

And who arrives?

Here comes the good thing. Sheinbaum wasted no time and already has a replacement in mind: Luisa María Alcalde, the current national leader of Morena.

“I consider Luisa María an extraordinary lawyer and I know that she is going to help us, she is going to contribute a lot to the government of transformation,” said Sheinbaum.

The detail is that the Mayor is still evaluating the proposal. And recently he uploaded a video saying that he would not leave the presidency of the party… unless the president herself asked him to. What a coincidence.

If he accepts, another game of chairs is unleashed: Morena would have to look for new leadership. And in that rumor another name is already ringing: Ariadna Montiel, Secretary of Welfare.

Sheinbaum quickly clarified that if Montiel goes to the party, the social programs are armored. Just in case someone asked.

A calculated move. One ally goes out the back door towards a candidacy, another ally enters the legal heart of the government through the front door. The political operation never sleeps.

US Commander meets with Sedena and Semar in Veracruz

Senior military commanders of Mexico and the United States review joint strategies against organized crime.

The commander of the United States Northern Command, General Greg Guillot, visited Mexico to meet with senior officials from the Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) and the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar). The meetings occurred on July 22 in Veracruz.

Bilateral security cooperation

Guillot met with the head of the Sedena, General Ricardo Trevilla, and with the Secretary of the Navy, Admiral Raymundo Pedro Morales. The US embassy described the meetings as progress in the defense relationship between both countries.

Among the topics addressed are specialized training in special operations and against organized crime, the exchange of information, and cooperation to counter unmanned aerial systems. The North American Maritime Security Initiative was also reviewed.

“The security of North America depends on the strength of its alliances and the ability of its members to act with common objectives,” said General Guillot.

Both nations reiterated their commitment to expanding cooperation, respecting sovereignty, territorial integrity and shared responsibility for security.

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T-MEC negotiations: tariffs and regional content on the table

Third round of dialogue between Mexico and the US addresses labor mechanisms and strategic rules.

Key points from the third round

Between July 21 and 23, Mexico and the United States held the third round of negotiations towards the review of the T-MEC. The central issues were tariffs, labor mechanisms, regional content and rules for sectors such as automotive, steel and aluminum.

The president of the Business Coordinating Council (CCE), José Medina Mora, explained that it was proposed to modify the Rapid Response Labor Mechanism to make it reciprocal. Currently, the investigations only apply to companies in Mexican territory.

“It is necessary that the mechanism be applied equitably between both countries,” said Medina Mora.

Another point of discussion was the United States’ intention to increase American content in products made in the region. Mexico defends the concept of regional content and rejects changes that reduce trilateral integration.

The leader added that the seasonality of agricultural products and the impact of tariffs on steel, aluminum and the automotive industry were also reviewed. Some US automakers in Mexico face higher export costs compared to competitors from Japan, Korea and Europe.

For his part, the president of Coparmex, Juan José Sierra, expressed uncertainty regarding the possibility of annual reviews of the treaty, but valued the dialogue between the partners. He indicated that Mexico requires strengthening legal and energy security and the conditions to attract investment.

“It is positive that communication continues, but we need certainty for investors,” said Sierra.

Concamin pointed out that the joint statement between the Secretary of Economy, Marcelo Ebrard, and the US trade representative, Jamieson Greer, confirms that both countries maintain an institutional work path.

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Registration of Housing for Wellbeing 2026 begins

Conavi opens registration in 2026 for subsidized housing in 26 states.

The National Housing Commission (Conavi) launched the 2026 call for the Housing for Well-being Program. The objective: to facilitate access to a decent home for low-income families. Registration will be from July 20 to August 2, in modules installed in 26 entities.

Requirements and financing

The scheme adjusts the monthly payments to the family income, so that the payments are accessible. It is aimed at those who cannot access traditional mortgage loans. Those interested must comply: not have their own home, not have current credit from Infonavit, Fovissste or another institution, and receive less than 17,800 pesos per month. Official identification, CURP, proof of address and income are also required.

Participating municipalities

The modules will only be in locations where Conavi will build projects in 2026. Among them: La Paz (Baja California Sur); Champotón (Campeche); Tapachula and Tuxtla Gutiérrez (Chiapas); Aquiles Serdán (Chihuahua); Piedras Negras and San Pedro (Coahuila); Gómez Palacio (Durango); Axapusco and Cuautitlán Izcalli (State of Mexico); Comonfort, Dolores Hidalgo, Pénjamo, San Diego de la Unión, San Luis de la Paz and Tarimoro (Guanajuato); Acapulco de Juárez, Chilpancingo de los Bravo, Coyuca de Benítez and Técpan de Galeana (Guerrero).

The list also includes municipalities of Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa, Sonora, Tabasco, Tamaulipas, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Yucatán and Zacatecas. Tepic, Xalisco, Puebla, Tehuacán, Tulum, San Luis Potosí and Valladolid stand out.

The program seeks to serve those who need it most, in a context where access to housing continues to be a challenge for millions of Mexicans.

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