Antonio Ocaranza
In the same week, President Claudia Sheinbaum sent a clear message to business leaders about how to build her relationship with them. She made it clear who is aligned with her project and who is becoming an obstacle.
On the one hand, she supported the purchase of 25% of Banamex by Fernando Chico Pardo, whom she described as a reputable Mexican businessman who has managed to keep a key institution in national hands. She also noted that Chico Pardo informed her of the announcement in advance, which demonstrates direct and respectful communication. In turn, the businessman responded by saying that he made the investment encouraged by his confidence in Sheinbaum’s government and her vision for the country.
On the other hand, Sheinbaum has been engaged in an open confrontation with Ricardo Salinas Pliego in recent weeks, mainly over alleged tax debts owed by some of his companies, which, according to government estimates, amount to more than 48 billion pesos.
There are five factors that help explain the government’s different treatment of each businessman: their visibility, the use of their concessions, their stance toward the government, their position on tax payments, and their investment in line with the government’s message.
Visibility: Chico Pardo maintains a low profile, avoiding public statements. In contrast, Salinas Pliego is very active on social media, where he does not hesitate to criticize the government and express his views, leaving no attack or question unanswered.
Use of concessions: Both have built their fortunes in sectors that depend on government permits, such as Grupo ASUR airports in the case of Chico Pardo, and TV Azteca and Banco Azteca in the case of Salinas Pliego. However, while the former has not used his businesses for political gain, the latter has used his media influence to challenge the government.
Stance toward the government: Chico Pardo has expressed support and recognition for President Sheinbaum. Salinas Pliego, on the other hand, refers to the officials of the Fourth Transformation as “government officials” who are determined to extort companies and put obstacles in their way, who use power in a partisan manner and implement paternalistic social programs with tax money that they distribute, with a lack of transparency, among the population. Chico Pardo has also not been associated with business groups hostile to the government. In contrast, Salinas Pliego recently created the “Anti-Crime and Anti-Corruption Movement” (MAAC), which is perceived as an instrument of political mobilization that could become his platform for a presidential candidacy in 2030.
Position on taxes: Chico Pardo states that “you have to pay what the law says and not evade a single cent,” a position that probably helped him gain the government’s support for the purchase of Banamex. Salinas Pliego acknowledges that taxes must be paid and says he complies with his tax obligations, but the government has been very successful in portraying him as a tax evader. If the Supreme Court rules against him in his litigation with the SAT, a new campaign will surely be launched to delegitimize him and strengthen the government’s arguments.
Aligned investment. Chico Pardo and Salinas Pliego invest billions a year in their companies, but the former has no qualms about using the purchase of Banamex to fuel the president’s narrative of promoting investment, while Salinas Pliego finds it more difficult to frame his investments in a narrative that implies support for the government.
The cases of Chico Pardo and Salinas Pliego show two approaches to the relationship between businesspeople and power: conciliation and confrontation. The former is also followed by businesspeople such as Carlos Slim, who put the sustainable growth of their companies above their differences with the government. The latter, less obvious, is expressed by leaders of organizations frustrated with the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) for maintaining a submissive position toward the government and failing to defend the interests of private enterprise.
