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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum ruled out this Monday that the ruling party governor accused of drug trafficking by the United States will return to his position in the state of Sinaloa, following an ephemeral attempt to resume the office.
Rubén Rocha Moya initially requested a leave of absence from his post on May 1, after U.S. justice officials requested his arrest and extradition for alleged ties to the powerful cartel founded by Joaquín "Chapo" Guzmán.
He resumed his duties on Friday, but governed for only 32 hours, in the face of widespread rejection from the president and the ruling party.
This time it is a "definitive leave," the president asserted during her daily press conference on Monday, in response to a question from AFP about whether Rocha Moya could return to the Sinaloa governorship again, which concludes on October 31, 2027.
Sheinbaum considered Rocha Moya's actions in recent days to be "imprudent."
"If you are under investigation, I think it is better to step down from your post (...). I don't know what led the governor on leave to return. I have not spoken with him, nor do I intend to speak with him," she maintained.
Parallel to Sheinbaum's conference, dozens of people protested against the veteran politician outside the government palace in Culiacán, the capital of Sinaloa.
"Out with Rochismo," chanted the demonstrators, who placed a banner that read "Out with Rocha" at the entrance of the building.
The local congress accepted by unanimous vote on Sunday that Rocha step down from his position, with the goal of naming an interim governor this Monday who, according to Sheinbaum, will complete the term until 2027.
That year, half of the state governments, all federal deputies, and numerous local officials are up for election.
"He has to guarantee the governability of Sinaloa, and ensure that the June 2027 elections are carried out appropriately," the president noted.
Nine other politicians close to Rocha were also accused of ties to the Sinaloa cartel.
Sheinbaum is under pressure from the Donald Trump administration, which has stated that drug trafficking governs in Mexico.
[Publicidad]