The Mexican authorities attribute a debt of over 2.8 billion pesos to Femsa. More than five years ago, the president stated that Femsa would make three payments, ending in June. Walmart has already paid its dues. The president also thanked Walmart, Femsa, IBM, and other companies for updating their payments, thus helping those who decided to settle their debts without going to court. On one hand, President Claudia Sheinbaum was against the review of the case, while on the other, the coordinator of senators, Adán Augusto López Hernández, supported this line, mentioning in private meetings that reopening files would violate agreements reached by Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Adán Augusto's vital role in the removal of Alejandro Gertz Manero from the Prosecutor's Office has once again placed him in a central position, which some businessmen who contacted the senator in recent hours have confirmed. The discontent in Palenque with Minister Lenia Batres' initiative is understandable: during 2020, the former president showed solidarity with business leaders, who agreed to settle debts through deferred payments and avoid courts, including Walmart, IBM, and now Femsa. In a morning conference on May 30, 2020, López Obrador even thanked the three companies. At the time, Walmart paid 8.079 billion pesos for a 2014 operation; FEMSA paid 8.790 billion pesos; and IBM de México paid another 669 million. The company claims that the case was resolved in its favor in June 2024 due to the expiration of the SAT's (Tax Administration Service) verification powers and a double collection of an amount exercised in 2005. On November 6, the Supreme Court rejected the review of this case, but seven days later, Minister Batres decided to take the fiscal review case again and secured its approval with six more ministers in favor. The Supreme Court of Justice's intention to reopen the review of a presumed tax debt from the Femsa group dating back to 2011 had immediate effects within the ruling party.
