On his last day of work as Chief Executive, Andrés Manuel López Obrador offered the morning thousand 438, where he boasted the success of his economic policy, signed the reforms on indigenous peoples and National guard and, to close, he unveiled the painting with which he will go down in history at the National Palace, between marimba, tears, congratulations and the raffle for his watch.
“In the public sphere I can say mission accomplished,” the man from Tabasco said in the corridors of the Palace before retiring to his office.
For the second time in his six-year term, Lopez Obrador He took time to have breakfast with reporters and YouTubers who were attending his conferences. There were tamales, atole and desserts.
Previously, the conference planned to speak for 10 minutes was extended for an hour and 49, as he reviewed the improvements in his government and raised 10 records of his administration, mainly in economic matters, since “the usual trodden path was not followed.” ”.
“This is a different economic policy. We no longer pay attention to the recommendations, the recipes of international organizations; Mexico has its own agenda based on our needs. Look at how the debt is in other countries and this increased due to the pandemic,” he highlighted.
He explained, accompanied by the security cabinet, that his government increased the minimum wage, 2 million 409 thousand new formal jobs were created—the third lowest unemployment rate worldwide—and for the first time in the last 50 years there were no devaluation of the peso.
He assured that the debt grew in an orderly manner and left room for maneuver for the next six-year term. Even, he said, a record was broken in tax collection.
In addition, he signed these reforms, which were already published in the Official Gazette of the Federation and they come into effect this Tuesday.
Subsequently, Lopez Obrador He witnessed an adaptation of the song “La Paloma”, in which his career is recognized. In addition, he listened to a group from Veracruz with which the morning sessions ended.
“Love is paid with love,” said the moved man from Tabasco.
He also took the opportunity to thank his successor for his respect, Claudia Sheinbaumduring the transition stage, by ensuring that “another self-conscious person” would have denied or questioned it.
“I feel very satisfied with the president’s treatment of me, respectful to the end, which demonstrates her great human conviction. Any other self-conscious person, the first thing I would have done would have been to refuse or start with hints to question what we have achieved to differentiate ourselves, to draw the line.
“Tomorrow (Tuesday) I am going to hand over the presidential sash to an exceptional, humanistic woman, full of love, humility, and good feelings; It is difficult to find a transition like the one we are experiencing in history,” he noted.
In the tamaliza, accompanied by officials, he answered some questions to the media and retired to unveil his portrait in the Gallery of the Presidents.
“I even lived in the Zócalo”
Andrés Manuel López Obrador unveiled his portrait, which will remain in the Gallery of the Presidents of the National Palace, accompanied by the Yucatecan painter Ermilo Espinosa, in charge of the work.
In the painting you can see the President with a baton and standing on the central balcony of the Palace, with the Zócalo in the background full of people, the monumental flag and the Latin American Tower.
It is a portrait, according to the president, loaded with symbolism about the country and his political career.
“I have been to the Zócalo many times, I even lived there, so (that’s why I appear) with people. And the Latin American Tower has September 15, 24,” he highlighted.
Espinosa accepted that painting the portrait was a difficult task, since Lopez Obrador He is one of the most recognized faces in the country and I had to capture his expressions very precisely.
“I had to be very precise to capture his face physically, but also his expression. It is not only the portrait of the person, but of the presidential investiture and of the Presidency through him.
“I think I captured, I hope, that firm but kind expression from the President, which was a fundamental element,” he commented.
The work, which is located next to former president Enrique Peña Nieto, was painted in approximately one year and cost 700 thousand pesos.
At the site, the president said that he had fulfilled his mission, but accepted that he left the president-elect pending, since “it was a long time of a policy of corruption, injustices, privileges; In six years it is not possible to finish cleaning.”
He added that to the best of his ability he fulfilled the promises he made throughout his political career and always worked with optimism: “we did the difficult things and we tried the impossible.”
“I love them very, very, very much,” he noted at the insistence of his wife, Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller, to leave the place, “they already came looking for me. Bye bye”.
“Friends are not lost”
The president Andrés Manuel López Obrador offered a meal to Latin American leaders, who are in the country to attend today the inauguration of Claudia Sheinbaum.
Minutes before 2:00 p.m., the presidents of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel; of Guatemala, Bernardo Arevaloand the prime minister of Belize, John Briceno.
Later the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petrowho said he will maintain his friendship with Lopez Obrador and that the relationship with Sheinbaum It will be the best.
—He is a great friend and friends are not lost.
—What will the relationship with Claudia Sheinbaum be like?
—Unbeatable.
Later the president arrived Brazil, Lula da Silvaand the president of Honduras, Xiomara Castro.
Lopez Obrador He published a photograph with his counterparts, whom he thanked for their solidarity.
“I said goodbye to them, thanking them for their expressions of support and solidarity with Mexico, its people and its government. Brotherly hugs to all,” he wrote.
With that meeting, Lopez Obrador He said goodbye to his counterparts and left the National Palace.
