The National Action Party (PAN) intensified its criticism of the federal government's security strategy, known as "hugs, not bullets."
PAN leaders claimed that this policy failed, allowing organized crime to strengthen and plunging the country into an unprecedented security crisis.
Oposición
Criticism from PAN leadership
Marko Cortés, national president of PAN, was one of the main critics of the governmental strategy. According to Cortés, the "hugs, not bullets" policy resulted in a resounding failure, evidenced by the increase in violence in various regions of the country.
The PAN leader pointed out that, instead of combating organized crime, the government opted for a permissive stance that exacerbated insecurity.
Guardia nacional
Statements from parliamentary leaders
The deputy coordinator of PAN in the Chamber of Deputies, Noemí Luna, accused the government of "embracing crime." This led Mexico to face two simultaneous crises: one of security and another in international relations, especially with the United States.
Luna argued that the permissiveness toward drug trafficking deteriorated the country's image and affected bilateral cooperation in security matters.
International repercussions
The Mexican security strategy was also criticized internationally. The United States ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, stated that the "hugs, not bullets" policy didn't work. He highlighted the need for closer collaboration between both countries to effectively combat organized crime.
PAN's proposals for a new security strategy
In light of what they consider a failure of the current strategy, PAN presented a series of initiatives in security matters.
PAN's parliamentary coordinator, Jorge Romero, emphasized the need to strengthen local security forces and return resources to states and municipalities to more effectively confront crime.
Romero stressed that it was imperative to abandon the "hugs, not bullets" policy and adopt more forceful measures against crime.
Impact on the population and demands for change
The citizenry was the most affected by the increase in violence. Various sectors of civil society demanded that the government change the security strategy to ensure peace and justice. PAN's criticism reflected a widespread sentiment about the need to rethink public security policies.
PAN's criticism of the "hugs, not bullets" strategy highlighted a growing concern about the effectiveness of the federal government's security policies.
The demand for a change of course was shared by various political and social actors. They emphasized the need to seek effective solutions to address the violence plaguing the country.
