Mexican Senator Lilly Téllez of the National Action Party (PAN) delivered a harsh criticism of President Claudia Sheinbaum, accusing her of prioritizing the interests of drug cartels over those of the Mexican people and of putting national sovereignty at risk. In a forceful statement, Téllez argued that in just seven years the ruling Morena party has turned Mexico into a nation that is “kneeling, cornered, and discredited,” allegedly dominated by pacts of impunity between politicians and criminal organizations.
Téllez categorically rejected accusations of treason that, according to her, the president has directed at those demanding a firm stance against the cartels. In her view, the true traitors are not the opposition, but those who “kneel” before criminal groups, offer them political support or even campaign financing, and strike deals of impunity. The senator directly named high-profile figures within Morena—including Adán Augusto López, Mario Delgado, Rubén Rocha, Américo Villarreal, and even former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador—as part of a broader problem that she claims has damaged Mexico’s reputation on the international stage.
Téllez also blamed Morena and the Sheinbaum administration for the deterioration of public security, comparing Mexico’s situation to countries such as Venezuela, Cuba, and Iran. She claimed that the current government has allowed the United States to portray Mexico as a country “governed by cartels.” She dismissed the government’s response as insufficient to confront these threats and demanded that the Mexican state regain control, including allowing the full use of its national armed forces to combat criminal organizations.
The senator further argued that Mexico cannot wait for foreign intervention, but must instead show dignity and reclaim control over its own territory. Her remarks come amid escalating political tensions over the fight against organized crime, as opposition sectors call for closer cooperation with the United States, in contrast to Sheinbaum’s reluctance to accept direct military support, citing the defense of national sovereignty.
Téllez’s statement reignites an intense debate over security, the fight against cartels, and the effectiveness of Mexico’s current security policies. Beyond the exchange of accusations, the central issue remains the growing power of criminal organizations and the implications this has for institutional stability, Mexico’s international standing, and the daily lives of millions of citizens.
