Federal deputy for Nuevo León's 8th district, Adriana Quiroz, spoke out, designating the appointment of Mónica Marisela Oyervides Acosta as interim mayor of Juárez an act of nepotism that is an affront to the current legal framework. The controversy originated on March 24, when the mayor from the Citizen Movement (MC) party, Félix Arratia, requested an indefinite leave to join the governor's cabinet. In a move that the legislator described as a violation of democratic principles, the local Congress ratified Oyervides Acosta, who is Arratia's wife and served as the head of the DIF (Family Development System), to take her spouse's position. "What might seem like a recurring administrative procedure today generates a legitimate concern... constituting a clear act of nepotism," Quiroz stated firmly during a speech on Wednesday evening. This is a blow to the anti-nepotism reform For the Morena party legislator, this incident is not just an ethical issue but a direct affront to the current legal framework. Quiroz recalled that this action contravenes the spirit of the constitutional reform against nepotism, promoted by President Claudia Sheinbaum and published in the Official Gazette of the Federation on April 1, 2025. She emphasized that Article 63 bis of the General Law of Administrative Responsibilities classifies these practices as serious offenses. The leadership change in Juárez, Quiroz assured, fits the scenario that the law seeks to prevent. "The use of a position of power to ensure the continuity of a post within a family nucleus, affecting the impartiality and equity that the people demand," she explained. Quiroz stressed that, from her party's perspective, apparent legality is not enough if it lacks ethics. "We in Morena are consistent; it is not enough for something to be apparently legal, it must be legitimate, ethical, and in line with democratic values." The deputy closed her speech with a demand for political responsibility and a reminder about the nature of public service in today's Mexico. "Power is not a family affair. Public offices are never inherited, and democracy is not built with privileges but with legitimacy and ethics." She reiterated her commitment to the citizens of Nuevo León to monitor that the constitutional framework is respected and to put an end to the old practices of inheriting power positions as if they were private goods.
