Claudia Sheinbaum clarifies why she sent an invitation to Vladimir Putin for his inauguration: “It is sent to all countries”

(EFE/Mario Guzman)

Mexican President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has put an end to the criticism against her after her team sent an invitation to Russian leader Vladimir Putin to attend her inauguration on October 1.

On Wednesday, in a press conference in Mexico City, he clarified that this is a formal act that takes place at every change of federal government.

“Just so you know, these are diplomatic notes that are normally sent when there are inaugurations and they are sent to all the countries with which there are relations,” he said.

However, to avoid any doubt, he asked Juan Ramón de la Fuente, the next head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE), to explain the process in detail.

This is the level of education and part of the career of Juan Ramón de la Fuente, who was in charge of the presidential transition. Photo: Cuartoscuro

In the words of the former permanent representative of Mexico to the United Nations (UN), it is “a protocol practice that consists, fundamentally, of sending a diplomatic note to all the countries with which Mexico has relations, without making any exclusions.”

According to the Mexican Foreign Ministry, diplomatic notes are defined as written communications exchanged by embassies with the Secretariat or Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the receiving State. “These documents deal with all issues related to the official management of the diplomatic mission.”

After receiving the announcement, Mexico is beginning to decide in more detail who of the 208 guests will attend the event. It could be the head of state himself or even a secretary.

“What Mexico is doing is informing the world that on October 1 there will be a ceremony that consists of the change of command of the Executive Branch of the country, and that Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo will take over,” he said.

Claudia Sheinbaum has also received congratulations from world leaders. REUTERS/Raquel Cunha

Along those lines, the former rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) clarified that each country and organization invited to the presentation of the presidential sash between Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Sheinbaum Pardo decides personally who will attend the ceremony. That is, if the invitation is accepted.

“We still don’t know if some leaders will come, but we expect a good number of women leaders to come. Each country decides who it sends. Sometimes the head of state, the head of government, the foreign secretary or the ambassador assigned to our country come,” he said.

He said there is no deadline for obtaining a response, although it is explained that specific requirements will be addressed according to the priority with which they are received.

“This means that the first ones to confirm are the ones with whom we can deal with everything that needs to be seen, such as their personalized attention, security issues, accommodation and the care that we will have with all of them,” he emphasized.

So far, no country has issued its response.

The Morena member will take office as Mexico’s first female president on October 1. (Facebook Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo)

In addition to the 208 nations with which Mexico maintains diplomatic relations, the SRE reported that the corresponding invitation was sent to international organizations in which it holds membership.

The only exceptions made this year were Ecuador and Peru, in line with the positions that President López Obrador took with both nations.