Mexico City, February 17. The governor of Puebla, Alejandro Armenta, has sparked controversy after appointing his son, Alejandro Armenta Arellano, as part of an ambitious technological project.
Without experience in the public sector, the young recent graduate in Robotics and Digital Systems Engineering now leads the initiative that aims to turn Puebla into "Mexico's Silicon Valley".
Nepotism or innovation?
The governor's son has been integrated into official state delegations. In December, he traveled to Mountain View, California, to visit the headquarters of tech giants like Meta and Google, in an attempt to attract investments to the state.
Additionally, Armenta Arellano founded a company called Armentech, with which he seeks to venture into technological development. However, critics have pointed out that his profile and the magnitude of the project suggest more an act of nepotism than a true push for innovation.
According to reports, Armentech is in charge of consulting and technology development. Among its projects is the manufacturing of Olinia electric vehicles, an initiative funded by President Claudia Sheinbaum's government. The feasibility of this project has been strongly questioned.
PRI in his DNA
Despite his current affiliation with MORENA, Alejandro Armenta's PRI past can't be ignored. For 30 years he was a member of the PRI and held various positions within the party.
Among his background highlights:
- Secretary of Social Development in Puebla during the government of Mario Marín, known as the "gober precioso."
- Campaign coordinator for Enrique Peña Nieto in Puebla during the 2012 elections, in which he competed against Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
- In 2017, he joined MORENA after having promoted the disappearance of the National Institute of Transparency as a legislator.
Scandals and corruption
Alejandro Armenta's administration has not been free of controversies. His chief advisor was accused of the purchase of an Audi car valued at 3 million pesos, a difficult expense to justify.
Additionally, Armenta promoted the progressive agenda in Puebla, pushing for the legalization of abortion, which caused great controversy in conservative sectors.
He has also been accused of abuse of authority and embezzlement. However, during the term of former governor Miguel Barbosa, he was exonerated by the State Attorney General's Office, in a process full of irregularities.
The governor's background highlights the danger posed by MORENA politicians. Despite the transformation speeches, nepotism and corruption remain commonplace.
