Mexico shifts funds from oversight to raise soldiers' pay
- Claudia Sheinbaum's administration plans to raise soldiers' pay using funds gained from eliminating oversight agencies.
- The Mexican military has been awarded broader powers to manage infrastructure projects, raising concerns about financial losses.
- Critics caution that these actions may undermine democratic checks and balances and increase military power in civilian affairs.
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum announced a significant shift in funding for the military following the dissolution of seven independent regulatory and oversight agencies by Congress. This decision was made as part of a broader financial strategy aimed at bolstering the country’s increasingly influential military forces. Critics have highlighted concerns that this move would concentrate the ruling Morena party’s power while diminishing external checks on the government. The new funding sources are crucial as the budget deficits are large due to ambitious infrastructure projects overseen by the military, including railways and airports. Sheinbaum’s administration aims to sustain the military’s operational capabilities amidst criticism regarding financial management of various military-led projects, some of which are reportedly losing money. The recent establishment of a $42 immigration fee for cruise ship passengers is another controversial measure supporting this strategy, with two-thirds of the collected fees directed to military funding. This approach reflects a continuation of policies initiated under Sheinbaum’s predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who prioritized military integration into national governance and security frameworks, a method that has raised alarms among opposition parties and watchdog groups. As military involvement in public services grows, so too does the urgency for substantial financial backing from the government to ensure operational effectiveness. Critics argue this continues a trend where military influence in civilian sectors expands, raising ethical and economic concerns surrounding governance in Mexico. With past military-run projects under scrutiny for financial viability, Sheinbaum’s promise of increased funding is both a solution for the military's current financial strain and a potential reinforcement of the ruling party's dominance, indicating a shift in Mexico’s political landscape that prioritizes military loyalty to the government.