Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has publicly accused organizers of recent weekend protests of deliberate provocation, alleging a coordinated effort to damage the image of her governance and the country. The demonstrations, which involved clashes with police, have ignited a national conversation regarding freedom of expression and the potential for outside influence in Mexican political affairs. Sheinbaum addressed the allegations at a Monday press conference, calling for investigations into funding sources and potential police misconduct during the unrest.
Mexico City’s mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, accused protesters of deliberately provoking police during weekend demonstrations, alleging a coordinated effort to portray Mexico as repressive towards its youth. The demonstrations, which saw clashes with law enforcement, have sparked a national debate about freedom of expression and alleged foreign interference in Mexican politics.
Sheinbaum on Monday called for peaceful demonstrations and urged authorities to investigate who funded and instigated the violence. She also requested a probe into potential misconduct by police officers during the protests.
“They think they’re going to weaken me, weaken the president with their shouts? No, today I am stronger, more so,” Sheinbaum stated during her regular morning press conference. “Do you think those shouts are going to do anything to me? No.”
She emphasized her commitment to continuing her administration’s policies, stating, “We are not going to back down. It’s the people, the people, the people.”
The mayor dismissed the protests as a provocation, arguing that a demonstration ostensibly against violence had itself turned violent. “We are not going to fall for the provocation because what they seek are these images,” she said.
Sheinbaum acknowledged that while some young people participated, the majority of protesters were not from Generation Z, as initially claimed. She pointed to evidence suggesting the protests were backed by opposition groups and business interests, with an estimated 90 million pesos ($5.3 million USD) spent on promotion.
“On Saturday, we saw that the majority were not young people from Generation Z. We saw familiar faces from the ‘pink tide’… Acosta Naranjo, Belaunzarán, many from the PAN who said they would come but didn’t, but promoted the demonstration,” she said, also referencing coverage from a major television network.
She presented video evidence showing the Zócalo, Mexico City’s main square, was not as full as it was during previous protests in 2023. A video displayed during the press conference showed protesters occupying roughly half of the square.
Sheinbaum questioned the motives of protesters who arrived equipped with tools like grinders, hammers, and crowbars, asking, “What was their objective? To tear down the barricade we put up precisely to avoid confrontation.”
Footage shown at the press conference depicted protesters assaulting a police officer. Sheinbaum criticized the focus on alleged police repression, noting that the incident was quickly amplified in international media. “They went after the police, and then a campaign emerged, replicated in international accounts, creating this narrative that Mexico is repressing its youth.”
She called on those who organized the protests to denounce the violence, and highlighted statements from opposition figures. She cited Jorge Romero, a leader of the PAN party, who said, “What the opposition literally lacks is violence,” and former Foreign Minister Jorge Castañeda, who referred to a “dirty war” against her.
“Reflecting on this, in 2023 they filled the Zócalo with the pink tide, now they didn’t. To conclude, we are not going to fall for the provocation, we must not fall for the provocation, and it is a call to hold peaceful demonstrations. In fact, if the opposition wants more people, as a recommendation – it doesn’t fall to me – violence will not help them.”
Sheinbaum asserted that her administration’s “transformation” of Mexico would continue despite the opposition, emphasizing that the majority of young people support her policies. She argued that promoting violence does not contribute to constructive debate in the country.
Regarding images circulating online of a protester being contained by police, Sheinbaum acknowledged the difficulty of verifying authenticity in the age of artificial intelligence, but reiterated the need to investigate any potential police misconduct.
She also accused businessman Ricardo Salinas Pliego of actively promoting the protests and using his media outlets to incite unrest. She noted that the Supreme Court of Justice recently resolved tax disputes involving Salinas Pliego’s companies, stating the court “ruled according to the law.”
“Do they believe that, linked with international right-wing organizations, they are going to stop the transformation? No, they are not going to stop it,” Sheinbaum said. “The majority of the people are with the transformation and benefit from an honest and responsible government.”
Sheinbaum concluded by emphasizing Mexico’s independence and sovereignty, rejecting any attempts at foreign intervention. “The country has a strong national sentiment and does not like this interference.” She also mentioned that a threat against police officers was heard in one of the protest videos, calling for that to be investigated as well.
