Poverty reduction is a feat of the 4T: Sheinbaum

MEXICO CITY (apro).- The reduction of poverty in Mexico “is a feat of the fourth transformation,” said President Claudia Sheinbaum after highlighting the data presented on Wednesday by the National Institute of Statistics of Mexico (INEGI).

The organization noted that poverty in Mexico was reduced by almost 18% between 2022 and 2024.

At the beginning of her press conference at the National Palace, the federal president explained that in 2008, 49.5 million Mexican women lived in poverty; in 2010, the number increased to 52.8 million; and in 2012, to 53.3 million.

“It's a policy that has one word, two: social justice and well-being. In the Fourth Transformation, we fight, we work every day for the well-being of the people. What does well-being mean? That no Mexican should live in poverty, after 36 years of neoliberalism, which only created more poverty in the country. It's extraordinary; it's a feat of the López Obrador administration... and of the Fourth Transformation.”

He highlighted that during Peña Nieto's administration, up until 2018, the poverty rate went from 53.3 million to 55.3 million to 55.2 million, up to 51.9 million Mexicans, representing 41.9 percent of the population.

“In December 2018, President López Obrador took office. There was a slight increase. What is the reason for this increase? It's the height of the pandemic, the worst of it. The 2020 Income-Expenditure Survey was conducted around June 2020, which is when many businesses were closed, and at that time, the poverty level increased in 2020,” he said.

The head of the Federal Executive noted that from 2018 to 2024, the number of people living in poverty increased from 51.9 million to 38.5 million. “More than 13 million people escaped poverty. What percentage of the population? From 43.9 percent, or 41.9 percent in 2018, to 29.6 percent; that is, less than 30 percent.”

Regarding extreme poverty, he said, in 2008 there were 12.3 million Mexicans, or 11 percent, in that condition; by 2024, there would be 7 million people, or 5.3 percent of the population.

That is, it was reduced by half the percentage; also knowing that Mexico's population is increasing. This reduction in poverty is a feat of the Fourth Transformation; it demonstrates that the model works, because it reduced poverty and, furthermore, inequality; that is, there is greater distribution of wealth.

The INEGI data, he stated, is the result of increases in the minimum wage, social programs, "and access to rights," although he did not mention the health care access rates, which actually showed worse indicators.

“We should be very proud as Mexicans, because this indicator speaks to the essence of our project: Humanism. A humanist project is demonstrated in this, in the reduction of poverty. And we are confident that we will continue to make progress, which is why we speak of the continuity and advancement of the Fourth Transformation.”

He complained that this information should have appeared in eight columns in all newspapers, but it didn't.