María Elena Pérez-Jaén Zermeño, a former federal deputy for the National Action Party (PAN) and a former member of the Surveillance Commission of the Superior Audit of the Federation (ASF), questioned the appointment of Aureliano Hernández Palacios Cardel as the new head of the oversight body by the Chamber of Deputies, considering that the process was predetermined by the official majority. During an interview with 'Aristegui en Vivo,' she stated that the procedure to choose David Colmenares Páramo's successor lacked real deliberation. She added that even some opposition parties went along with the process; 'there wasn't even a discussion, everything was already set in stone.' Pérez-Jaén said she closely followed the selection process and maintained that the shortlist presented to the Chamber of Deputies was 'tailor-made.' 'All of this, the appointment of Aureliano Hernández Palacios, leaves a very bad taste, because it was all a farce orchestrated by the official party, Morena, the PT, and the official parties,' she affirmed. She explained that she has promoted 37 criminal complaints against the former Secretary of the Interior, Adán Augusto López Hernández, in addition to others related to different cases. According to her explanation, that area—then headed by Emilio Barriga—issued audits with no observations for various governments. For the former deputy, this type of result reflects the functioning of that area, where she claimed, 'that audit of federalized spending is where the deals are made.' Pérez-Jaén also referred to the criminal complaints she has filed with the Attorney General's Office (FGR) regarding cases of alleged corruption. She recalled that on June 27, 2024, INAP awarded Colmenares an honorary doctorate. During that ceremony, she cited, it was stated that the recognition was granted 'for his professional and academic merits, but above all for his integrity and impeccable reputation.' According to Pérez-Jaén, the appointment of Hernández Palacios was a planned alternative in case Colmenares was unable to be re-elected. 'He was always the second option.' 'I have already filed almost 250 criminal complaints,' she indicated. However, she pointed out that many of them have not progressed. Faced with this situation, she hinted that she might use legal resources to push for the follow-up of the files. 'I think I will probably file an amparo,' she said.
