The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, harshly criticized on Monday the decision of the mayor of Cuauhtémoc, Alessandra Rojo de la Vega, to remove the statues of Fidel Castro and Ernesto “Che” Guevara from a public square in Mexico City, describing the action as “illegal,” “intolerant,” and “hypocritical.”
According to the newspaper La Jornada, Sheinbaum demanded the immediate return of the sculptures, which were recently removed from San Carlos square without the authorization of the Committee of Monuments and Artistic Works in Public Spaces.
The president emphasized that this is the body responsible for approving any modifications to public spaces and is made up of institutions such as INAH, INBAL, and the capital's Secretariat of Culture.
"You can't just remove a statue or a monument on a whim because someone thought of it. It has to go through a committee, and in this case, it didn't happen," the leader stated.
Sheinbaum went further by stating that the decision was not only irregular but also motivated by contradictory ideological positions, recalling that the mayor herself vacationed in Cuba in the past.
"The argument is one of tremendous intolerance and also very hypocritical, because it was later seen that she was also in Cuba on vacation. If she had been so opposed, she wouldn't have gone there on vacation," the leader emphasized.
Furthermore, the president warned that, if the mayor follows through with her intention to auction off the statues, she would be committing the crime of damaging the national heritage, as these are public assets.
The warning reflects that the controversy surrounding the removal of the sculptures not only persists but has also escalated in tension and legal implications.
In coordination with the head of government of the capital, Clara Brugada, and the Secretariat of Culture, the federal government has requested the delivery of the sculptures for their relocation to another space, in order to resolve the conflict "in an institutional manner."
Sheinbaum recalled that when she served as the head of Government of Mexico City, the relevant committee was indeed consulted before the statue of Christopher Columbus was removed from Paseo de la Reforma, referring to the legal protocols established for such actions.
When asked whether the committee would have the authority to submit the case for public consultation, she responded that it does have that power, and that this mechanism is provided for in local legislation.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Removal of the Statues of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara in Mexico
Why were the statues of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara removed in Mexico City?
The statues were removed due to irregularities in their installation and multiple complaints from residents. The mayor of Cuauhtémoc, Alessandra Rojo de la Vega, argued that the removal was carried out due to a lack of legal documentation and in response to the demands of residents to reclaim public space free of symbols of dictatorships.
What position has the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, taken regarding the removal of statues?
Claudia Sheinbaum criticized the removal of the statues, calling it "illegal," "intolerant," and "hypocritical." She demanded the immediate return of the sculptures and suggested their relocation to a symbolic public space, arguing that they represent a historical moment between Cuba and Mexico.
What has been the reaction of the Communist Party of Mexico to the removal of the statues?
The Communist Party of Mexico described the removal of the statues as an "anti-popular and anti-communist" act and called for protests in response, arguing that it is an offense against the friendship between Cuba and Mexico.
What legal implications could the mayor of Cuauhtémoc face for removing the statues?
President Sheinbaum warned that if Mayor Alessandra Rojo de la Vega auctions off the statues, she could incur in the crime of damage to national assets, as these are public goods. Furthermore, the removal without authorization could be regarded as a property crime.
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