Editor’s briefing for the week commencing 25 August 2025
Price pressures in the basic basket (Mon 25 Aug).
August inflation pressures were being felt most acutely in the canasta básica — the official “basic basket” of essential goods, according to reporting in El Financiero. Analysts noted that while headline inflation has been edging closer to Banco de México’s 3% target, volatility in the basic basket hits low-income households hardest, since these goods make up a larger share of their spending, underscoring a persistent challenge for President Sheinbaum’s administration.
Sheinbaum weighs in on “El Mayo” guilty plea (Tues 26 Aug).
At her regular morning press conference, President Sheinbaum stated that if the United States recovers any of the estimated US $15 billion from Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, Mexico would formally request that the funds be returned and allocated to benefit the country’s poorest citizens.
Senate brawl rocks Mexican politics (Wed 27 Aug).
A fistfight between outgoing Senate president Gerardo Fernández Noroña and PRI senator Alejandro “Alito” Moreno rocked Mexico’s upper chamber this week. The clash erupted after a heated debate on the possible presence of U.S. troops in Mexico, during which Moreno accused Noroña and the ruling Morena coalition of spreading false claims that the PRI and PAN were undermining national sovereignty. Following the brawl, Moreno filed an official complaint with the Attorney General’s Office against Noroña.
Cutzamala water system at highest level in 5 years (Wed 27 Aug).
The Cutzamala system, which supplies roughly one-quarter of the water consumed in Mexico City and the State of Mexico, reached 70.6% capacity, its highest level since 2020. The rise comes after an unusually wet summer. Officials said the recovery eases short-term pressure on the capital’s water supply, though long-term sustainability remains a concern given climate change, rising demand, and persistent leaks in the distribution network.
Security surge in Guerrero after massacre (Thu 28 Aug).
Federal and state authorities deployed 600+ personnel to Guerrero state’s Costa Chica nearly two weeks after 13 community police were massacred. According to reports in Proceso, local residents and victims’ families had spent days denouncing the government’s slow response and accusing authorities of leaving rural communities to fend for themselves against heavily armed criminal groups.
Rubio to visit Mexico next week (Thurs 28 Aug).
The US State Department put out a press release confirming that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be travelling to Mexico next week on 3 September. A new US - Mexico security agreement is expected to be one of the topics on the agenda.
Mexico has a new Senate president (Thurs 28 Aug).
Laura Itzel Castillo has been confirmed as the new President of Mexico’s Senate, succeeding Gerardo Fernández Noroña and taking office on 1 September 2025. A seasoned Morena party legislator recognized for her commitment to social causes and leftist politics, her appointment was unanimously approved by the party’s Senate caucus.