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MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has rejected a complaint by the country’s defense ministry for refusing to appear before lawmakers in the face of a first hack, resulting in a major data breach.
Lopez Obrador called on the opposition to calm down and have tea at a normal news conference on Tuesday, describing the complaint as politically motivated.
“It’s politics, don’t give it importance, it’s not news,” Lopez Obrador said when asked if Gen. Luis Sandoval, head of the Defense Ministry, enjoys privileges.
The National Defense Commission of the Chamber of Deputies summoned General Sandoval to Congress a few weeks ago, he never showed up.
Lawmakers quoted Sandoval on steps the military was taking after a major hack leaked classified data in September.
The leak brought to light important points about López Obrador’s health, sensitive data about military operations, military surveillance of journalists and activists, and the armed forces’ knowledge of acts of corruption between the government and criminal groups.
While secretaries of state are not required to settle for invitations from lawmakers, such appearances (infrequently behind closed doors) are noted as a tool for accountability.
Since taking office in 2018, López Obrador has strengthened the role of the armed forces in public security functions, such as infrastructure projects and customs activities.
Mexico’s Congress last week approved extending the role of the armed forces in public security responsibilities until 2028.
(Information through Raúl Cortés Fernández and Ana Isabel Martínez; Editing by Andrea Ricci)