Mexicans’ worries about corruption have peaked under Claudia Sheinbaum’s presidency, recent surveys indicate, and growing scandals involving senior officials, including allegations from the United States against a state governor, have further heightened public unease.
Corruption Surfaces as an Increasing National Concern
A May survey conducted by LatAm Pulse for Bloomberg News indicated that 62% of respondents considered corruption to be Mexico’s most pressing issue, marking an increase of three points since April and sixteen since February, with this heightened alarm tied to a string of high-profile scandals, including a fuel-smuggling operation involving Navy officers, customs staff, and corporate leaders, as well as a separate case focused on Sinaloa’s Governor Rubén Rocha Moya, who faces U.S. accusations of collaborating with drug cartels.
Despite these scandals, Sheinbaum’s approval rating showed signs of recovery, rising to 53% in May from a previous low. Her disapproval rating dropped 5 points to 38%. Political analysts attribute her rebound to perceptions that she is not directly implicated in these cases, despite them occurring under her administration.
Pressure on Morena and Sheinbaum’s Leadership
Though Morena, Sheinbaum’s political party, is still perceived as the best-positioned to combat corruption, 54% of Mexicans believe the party struggles with its own integrity issues. This view has placed additional pressure on Sheinbaum, especially given that one of the accused officials, Rocha Moya, is a Morena member. As the U.S. presses for stronger anti-cartel measures, Sheinbaum must navigate both international scrutiny and domestic criticism to maintain her party’s credibility.
Public Perspectives on Safety and U.S. Engagement
The survey also indicates mixed attitudes toward American participation in Mexico’s campaign against organized crime, pointing out that while 69% of Mexicans approve U.S. cooperation limited to intelligence exchange, public sentiment is divided over deeper involvement, with 47% backing the deployment of U.S. personnel in security missions and 48% opposing such a role.
Sheinbaum’s approach to U.S.-Mexico security cooperation earned a moderate level of support, with 46% viewing her actions as positive while 32% judged them negatively, and recent allegations of clandestine CIA efforts to weaken cartels have intensified discussions over national sovereignty and the scale of U.S. involvement.
Concluding Reflections
As corruption and security concerns dominate public discourse, Claudia Sheinbaum faces mounting challenges in balancing international pressures, domestic reform expectations, and her administration’s reputation. The coming months will test her ability to deliver solutions while maintaining public trust as these issues remain under intense scrutiny.
Source: Content supplied by Bloomberg Línea – https://www.bloomberglinea.com/latinoamerica/mexico/preocupaciones-por-corrupcion-en-mexico-se-disparan-con-sheinbaum/
