Mexican president hands foreign ministry to official ousted after Trump visit

[DonViejo]

Source: The Washington Post


By Joshua Partlow January 4 at 1:50 PM

MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto resurrected the political fortunes of Luis Videgaray, who was ousted in the wake of Donald Trump’s visit last year, by naming him foreign minister on Wednesday.

The replacement is a stunning reversal at the top ranks of the Mexican government and shows the influence of the incoming Trump administration on the Mexican government's foreign policy strategy.

As finance minister last year, Videgaray advocated for Trump to visit Mexico as a way to calm financial markets and establish a relationship with the then Republican candidate in the event that he won the election.

The visit caused immense outrage in Mexico as citizens saw Peña Nieto as bowing down to a candidate who had been harshly critical of Mexicans, including his calls to build a border wall. Videgaray lost his job in the aftermath of the visit, but his stock has been rising ever since Trump's election.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/mexican-president-hands-foreign-ministry-to-official-ousted-after-trump-visit/2017/01/04/0c33da36-d209-11e6-9651-54a0154cf5b3_story.html?utm_term=.5b3fce380a8f

[tenorly]

1. Intriguing find.

Consider posting this in the Latin America group, Don Viejo.

¡Salúd!

[Judi Lynn]

2. Rotten news for the Mexican population. What a shame.

[center]

Luis Videgaray, stifling a burp?





We could use a little breathing space here, Luis.

[Judi Lynn]

3. Mexicos New Foreign Minister Is The Guy Who Arranged Trumps Mexico Trip Luis Videgaray, who resign

Luis Videgaray, who resigned from his role as Finance Minister after masterminding then-candidate Trump’s Mexico visit, will now be the country’s chief diplomat.

posted on Jan. 4, 2017, at 2:48 p.m.

Karla Zabludovsky
BuzzFeed News Reporter

MEXCIO CITY, Mexico — Luis Videgaray, who reportedly masterminded President-elect Donald Trump’s controversial visit to Mexico last year, will now head the foreign ministry, President Enrique Peña Nieto announced Wednesday.

The meeting between Peña Nieto and Trump ended in conflict after opposing claims about who would pay for Trump’s proposed southern border wall. Videgaray, who was the finance minister at the time and Peña Nieto’s closest ally, stepped down after the visit.

There was widespread disapproval following Peña Nieto’s announcement Wednesday, with many here saying that his decision is based on a close personal relationship between the two men — and a pre-established relationship with some of Trump’s team — rather than on Videgaray’s diplomatic qualifications.

The former finance minister was highly criticized at the end of his last time in government for extending an invitation to Trump after the then-candidate called Mexicans “rapists” during his candidacy announcement, promised to build a the border wall, and threatened to pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Trump also said during the campaign that he would deport millions of undocumented immigrants.

More:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/karlazabludovsky/mexicos-new-foreign-minister-is-the-guy-who-arranged-trumps?utm_term=.hkwvWmq1Zl#.hurO9PMnKB