Mexico reacts to Trump’s wall
*Why you should read this: Because it’s Mexico’s news media reaction to Donald Trump’s order to begin building the border wall and the Mexican government’s circling the wagons around Enrique Peña Nieto. Our partners at Once Noticias did a round-up of top Mexican government official reactions. VL
By Once Noticias (4 minute read) 
President Enrique Peña Nieto announced that he will not attend the meeting scheduled for January 31 with his United States counterpart, Donald Trump.
Through his Twitter account, the Mexican president wrote: “This morning we informed the White House that I will not attend the work meeting scheduled for next Tuesday with @POTUS.”
“Mexico reiterates its willingness to work with the United States to reach agreements on behalf of both nations,” he said.
Yesterday, in a message to the nation, the chief executive lamented and disapproved the executive order that Donald Trump signed for the construction of the wall on the US-Mexico border.
Earlier, Donald Trump said that Mexico should cancel its visit to Washington if it refuses to pay for a wall along the border between the two countries.
“The United States has a trade deficit of $ 60 billion with Mexico. It has been a one-sided agreement since the start of NAFTA, with huge numbers of jobs and corporate losses.”
Governors and Legislative and Judicial powers close ranks in defense of Mexico’s interests
The Federal, Legislative and Judicial Powers as well as state governors closed ranks around President Enrique Peña Nieto, once it canceled the planned meeting with Donald Trump, because of the condition that Mexico pay for the border wall.
Javier Bolaños, president of Mexico’s Lower House of Congress, demanded that Peña Nieto not give in to blackmail.
“We are ready to close ranks around the President of the Republic who today more than ever need the strength of the unity of Mexicans. It is not a moment of hesitation, it is no time to give in to any pressure and of course it is not time to give in to blackmail. This is a moment of dignity, it is time to ask our representatives who are in the U.S. to return, they have nothing to do in the United States, it is time to stand face to face against the U.S.,it is a momnt for Mexicans and a moment of State policy,” said Bolaños.
Then, the president of the Senate, Pablo Escudero, argued that Mexico is bigger than any Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
“These are moments for unity, they are difficult times but as we have said, Mexico is bigger than any Free Trade Agreement. Its people, its capacities its talent are bigger is this, I celebrate and we are all undoubtedly with Mexico and with The President of the Republic. There is no way that this wall is paid in this country, “said Pablo Escudero.
Separately, the president of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), Luis María Aguilar, pointed out that no one has to tell Mexicans what to do.
“We can not tolerate anybody telling us what we should do, nor can we tolerate what other people want to do with us, we are a country with sovereignty with independence and respect for law and institutions, the Constitution is our axis, our intitutions are our center, “said Aguilar.
Graco Ramirez, president of the National Conference of Governors, Conago, expressed support for President Enrique Peña Nieto. He assured that unity is the supreme value of Mexico.
Also joining these statements of support was the head of the Government of Mexico City, Miguel Angel Mancera.
“Mexico must have its own preparation, its own approach must be very firm, we are in a moment of national unity. I believe that there must be a great national agreement, an agreement in which all participate because, obviously, in the decisions that are made, there may be very important national problems, and you have to listen to the businessmen, the workers, you have to show a total position of unity,” said Mancera.
Meanwhile, the undersecretary of Finance, Vanesa Rubio, said that the country’s sovereignty is not in negotiation and Mexico should not pay for the construction of the wall.
“Mexico is not going to pay if the United States decides to continue with the reconstruction of that wall. It seems to us that intending for Mexico to pay for that wall is an absurd approach, an unacceptable approach and Mexico defends and will continue defending its sovereignty with great determination, with great decision, because the sovereignty of Mexico is not in negotiation, ” said Rubio.
This article was originally published in Once Noticias.
Translated from Spanish by NewsTaco.
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[Photo by Presidencia de la República Mexicana/Flickr]
