Chihuahua Governor denounces withholding of federal funds

During a conference held on January 8, the Governor of Chihuahua, Javier Corral, accused the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of withholding federal funds – MXN$ 700 million – as a retaliation for the investigation launched by Corral's administration into the alleged embezzlement committed by the former governor of the state in which Alejandro Gutiérrez, former Deputy Secretary General of the center-right Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) , has also been involved.

During the conference, Corral, of the conservative National Action Party ( PAN ), called for Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto to rectify the situation and to request the extradition of the previous Chihuahua governor, César Duarte .

President Peña Nieto declared the Government of the Republic is “in no way opposed” to the fight against corruption and that the Governor should address the issue with the corresponding authorities, claiming the Governor's actions seemed to have a political agenda.

According to Governor Corral, the state of Chihuahua received during the Cesar Duarte administration up to MXN$1 billion in public funding, whereas he received during the first year of his administration MXN$ 770 million which became MXN$ 700 by 2017 – funds which have been withheld for his fight against corruption.

The Chihuahua Governor said Alejandro Gutiérrez , a high-ranking officer of the PRI, was found to be linked to the Cesar Duarte case and is currently under arrest for embezzlement and for funneling public resources to his party.

Chihuahua Governor denounces withholding of federal funds

( Minister of Finance, José Antonio González – Photo: COURTESY)

For his part, the Minister of Finance, José Antonio González , declared the corresponding funds were given to the sate in 2017 and that all the officials of the Ministry acted pursuant to the law, emphasizing public funds are in no way conditioned to the ongoing investigation.

The Ministry has also claimed all public funds are given in time and manner, according to that set forth by the applicable laws and the Mexican Constitution.

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