Sheinbaum entrusts Jesús Ramírez Cuevas and Jenaro Villamil with the morning press conference; she confirms them as part of her team

The president-elect confirmed both as members of her team. | Credit: Cuartoscuro

Weeks before Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo’s inauguration as the future president of Mexico, the Morena member continues to fine-tune details regarding who will be part of her work team, which is why the confirmation of Jesús Ramírez Cuevas, current presidential spokesman, and Jenaro Villamil, head of the Mexican State Public Broadcasting System, as those who will support her for the 2024-2030 period, is striking.

On the afternoon of Thursday, August 29, the former head of the Government of Mexico City was approached by the Mexican press near her transition house located in the Iztapalapa municipality, where she confirmed having met with the aforementioned to coordinate matters related to the morning message that she will now lead from the Treasury Room of the National Palace.

Without giving details, the activist from the National Regeneration Movement (Morena) said that the central theme was La Mañanera, so she has not been able to say if anyone will remain as spokesperson, a position currently held by Ramírez Cuevas.

Mexico’s president-elect is already thinking about the format of the new morning press conference | EFE/Mario Guzmán

At the moment, it is known that the cartoonist Rafael Barajas, alias ‘El Fisgón’, and Paco Ignacio Taibo II, who had already been confirmed by the president-elect as general director of the Fondo de Cultura Económica (FCE), a position he will repeat, were present at the meeting.

While the Morena member gives details about this meeting, it is known that Jenaro Villamil is a Mexican journalist, writer and political analyst. He is currently the president of the Mexican State Public Broadcasting System (SPR) and has worked in various written and digital media, which is why he is known for his critical and in-depth analysis of politics and the media in Mexico.

Villamil, it should be noted, is also the author of several books that address political and media issues. At this time, he has not given details of his meeting with the former head of government of Mexico City.

Jenaro Villamil could be part of Sheinbaum Pardo’s team | PHOTO: GALO CAÑAS/CUARTOSCURO.COM

Meanwhile, Jesús Ramírez Cuevas is the current General Coordinator of Social Communication of the Presidency of the Republic in Mexico and therefore, in charge of directly supporting President López Obrador.

After concluding the press conference on Friday, Ramírez Cuevas denied that there was any offer from the president-elect at this time and even asked independent journalists to ask Joaquín López-Dóriga directly about this alleged offer.

“Ask Política Online, which is the one that said those things, López-Dóriga. I am still here, I am the spokesperson for the Mexican government. We are working and finishing this government that continues to be from sunrise to sunset, doing whatever it takes to deliver the works, to finish this government. I have no other plans, I have been helping with other issues, but there is no offer or position. I am still the spokesperson for the Mexican government,” he said.

The presidential spokesman denies being part of Sheinbaum’s team | (Cuartoscuro)

Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on August 12 that, during her term, she will maintain morning press conferences in the style of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The future president recalled how this practice was first established when the Tabasco native was Head of Government of the Federal District, and later when he became president of Mexico. The Morena member explained that “at 7 (am), they will have to get up early, I have already made the decision that at 6 in the morning the Security Cabinet and at 7 the Morning Press Conference…” This statement was given amid laughter to the reporters who were covering the source in her transition house.

The reason behind Claudia Sheinbaum’s decision is based on the benefits she perceives from starting the work day early. Following the practice of her predecessor, she mentioned that these schedules helped with the organization of the day and emphasized that they will meet again at six in the morning with the Security Cabinet and at seven with the press. In this vein, she stressed that “I know that our adversaries are going to say that it is the same thing, but starting very early organizes the day a lot…” This schedule will be maintained at the National Palace, allowing the afternoons to be dedicated to meetings and projects and the weekends to work tours in coordination with the governors.