Sheinbaum Puts Salinas on the Hot Seat: Tax Dodger or Justice Dodger?
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has escalated her criticism of Ricardo Salinas Pliego-once counted among the country's wealthiest-by labeling his empire one built on political maneuvering and judicial favoritism. The showdown has intensified amid ballooning tax liabilities and looming legal defeats for Salinas's media and banking holdings.
Sheinbaum Blasts Judicial Favoritism
On March 14, 2025, reacting to a Supreme Court decision that blocked justice Lenia Batres from overseeing tax-related litigation involving Salinas, Sheinbaum declared: "Everyone in Mexico must pay their taxes. You can't speak of the rule of law for some things, and for others that don't suit me, there's no rule of law." She called the move emblematic of judicial double standards favoring the elite.
Accusations of Corruption Reach a Peak
By July 2025, Sheinbaum was not holding back. She publicly accused Salinas of establishing "corrupt ties with judges, magistrates, and ministers" to evade paying billions in taxes while insisting Mexico's tax system apply equally to all. The remarks came as Grupo Salinas faces outstanding liabilities exceeding 74 billion pesos (nearly US$4 billion).
Another Major Judicial Blow
In July 2025, a federal appellate court ordered TV Azteca-a property under Salinas's Grupo Salinas-to pay 3.5 billion pesos in tax arrears from 2009, marking yet another legal setback. Sheinbaum embraced the ruling, asserting that justice may take time, but it always arrives.
Why This Matters
Institutional Integrity at Stake: Sheinbaum's campaign against Salinas challenges entrenched corporate privileges and puts judicial independence under scrutiny.
Breaking Norms of Elite Immunity: Targeting one of Mexico's most powerful oligarchs signals a shift in tolerance for elite tax avoidance.
Mounting Public Sentiment: Frustration over tax fairness and media influence grows as legal rulings pile up and Sheinbaum takes a firmer stance.
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