While arguably "better than nothing" one aspect of this arrangement that I haven't seen reported is how this administration has been outsourcing govt duties to companies owned by Mexico's second richest man, who - incidentally - the current Education Secretary used to work for. https://twitter.com/katelinthicum/status/1290847546332647424

One of President López Obrador's signature programs is a stipend for students, to help with education costs and serve as an economic incentive to stay in school. Since the start of the pandemic, students receiving these funds have been required to open an account in Banco Azteca.

That bank is more of a remittance network / dept store company credit type of business than what foreign readers may imagine with the word 'bank'. But it's now in charge of distributing a significant amount of govt funds. And saw its number of account holders swell as a result.

Banco Azteca is part of Grupo Salinas, a huge conglomerate of businesses and interests, operated by Ricardo Salinas Pliego, Mexico's 2nd richest man. He also owns TV Azteca, one of the private broadcasters contracted to air educational programming to substitute in-person classes.

Incidentally yesterday's announcement that next semester will be televised made those companies' stock prices jump. It's not often private broadcasters get to announce access to new channels AND months of guaranteed viewership all at the same govt presser. https://mobile.twitter.com/chrissiemurray/status/1290745875426410496

What if students don't have TVs or have more siblings than sets? The same conglomerate that distributes student stipends and will air school programs also owns a nationwide chain of stores that sell electronics on layaway plans. Many Banco Aztecas are located inside these stores.

If you're wondering why Mexico doesn't tap national public television networks for TV school, this is the part where I mention Mexico privatized and sold those stations in 1993. After auction, the former public television network was renamed TV Azteca. https://www.company-histories.com/TV-Azteca-SA-de-CV-Company-History.html

Which brings us to a revolving door.

Many of Mexico's billionaires can trace a sizable chunk of their fortunes to privatizations of public assets in the 1990s. It was the heyday of the policies of neoliberalism the current president habitually identifies as a rhetorical enemy.

At one point in the '90s, during the Zedillo administration, a guy named Esteban Moctezuma Barragán was the Interior Secretary. That's the VP-level official next in line to the president. He later switched cabinet chairs for Development Secretary. Then he ran political campaigns.

Moctezuma Barragán eventually moved into the private sector to become CEO of Fundación Azteca, the nonprofit arm of Grupo Salinas (Banco Azteca, TV Azteca, etc).

Now he's Secretary of Education.

In an administration that portrays itself as an enemy of institutional corruption.