Latin America's largest airline files for US bankruptcy

 

Mexico City – Amid the country's climate of political and social polarization, businessman Ricardo Salinas Pliego, president of Grupo Salinas and one of the most influential magnates in the financial, technology, and media sectors, surprised audiences this Tuesday by announcing the creation of the Anti-Crime and Anti-Corruption Movement (MAAC), a platform that, in his words, seeks to “transform Mexico through economic freedom and the reduction of state interventionism.”

The launch event took place in a private forum in Mexico City and brought together a select group of business leaders, academics, journalists, opinion leaders, and figures from the technology and finance sectors, who listened to the owner of TV Azteca outline the foundations of what he described as a far-reaching political and cultural project.

Principles and Objectives: In his speech, Salinas Pliego emphasized that the movement is based on three pillars: life, property, and liberty. From that perspective, the businessman argued that criminal violence and political corruption represent the main obstacles to national development, and that a change of course is essential, one that focuses on public safety, respect for the rule of law, and the reduction of state bureaucracy.

"The time has come to say enough. Mexico cannot continue to be trapped in the tolerance of crime and the normalization of corruption. This movement is an open call to those who believe that our country deserves to be governed with order, justice, and freedom," he emphasized.

A Cultural and Political Front: Salinas Pliego clarified that the MAAC will not only be a traditional political group, but also a "cultural and intellectual battle" that challenges the dominant narrative in the country. The movement, he explained, aims to unite citizens dissatisfied with the government's current direction and offer a space where productive, academic, and social sectors that share the vision of a modern, competitive, and safe Mexico can converge.

Although the businessman avoided specifying whether the organization will seek to become a political party, he did not rule out the possibility of establishing alliances with opposition forces or promoting candidates in the future.

Those who attended the announcement: The presentation included the participation of opinion leaders linked to Grupo Salinas' media outlets, such as journalist Javier Alatorre and columnist Lourdes Mendoza. Also mentioned was the presence of analyst María Amparo Casar, president of Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity (MCCI), as well as Benjamín Salinas Sada, the businessman's son.

Reactions and controversy: The announcement caused an immediate stir in the public sphere. While some analysts celebrated the emergence of a new platform capable of spurring democratic debate and offering alternatives to the current model of government.

 

The possibility that Salinas Pliego might use his vast financial and media resources to position the MAAC raises questions about the fairness of political competition and the impact of large private conglomerates on the country's public life.

The federal government did not immediately comment, although circles close to the administration perceive the emergence of the movement as an attempt to unite sectors of the opposition ahead of the 2027 midterm elections and, eventually, the presidential succession in 2030. This goal, according to analysts, will not be difficult to achieve given the evident and growing citizen opposition.

Background: The announcement is not entirely unexpected. In recent weeks, Salinas Pliego had intensified his critical messages against the federal administration through social media and business forums, in which he insisted on the need for less state intervention, greater market freedom, and a determined fight against insecurity. He even went so far as to suggest that Mexico requires a different kind of leadership that champions fiscal discipline and unrestricted respect for private enterprise.

This political shift occurs in a context in which other figures from the business sector have explored the public arena, although none with the economic, media, and social clout that Salinas Pliego represents.

Possible scenarios: Analysts consulted agree that the MAAC could become a relevant player within the opposition, especially if it manages to channel the growing discontent of the middle, business, and cultural sectors who see the total decomposition of public administration, exerted by the current model of government. However, they also point out that the challenge will be to differentiate itself from other failed attempts at citizen movements and demonstrate that it is not merely an instrument of corporate power.

The viability of the project seems inevitable, primarily if factors such as the formation of a solid organizational structure, its ability to forge alliances with existing political forces, and, above all, reaching the majority of the electorate, provoking their reaction to an initiative led by one of the richest men in the country, are achieved.

Conclusion: With the creation of the Anti-Crime and Anti-Corruption Movement, Ricardo Salinas Pliego bursts into the Mexican political arena, putting forward a project that combines economic, cultural, and security aspirations. The announcement has already sent shockwaves through the national political landscape and opened a new chapter in the relationship between corporate and political power in Mexico.