The leader of the PAN in Puebla, Mario Riestra, has challenged Mayor José Chedraui to a public debate to explain how 14 billion pesos have been spent during his two years in office.
The president of the National Action Party (PAN) in Puebla, Mario Riestra Piña, has issued a public challenge to the mayor of the capital, José Chedraui Budib, to accept a debate in a university forum and account for the destination of 14 billion pesos from the municipal budget.
The proposal comes after the mayor described the PAN opposition as “small” and suggested that Riestra would avoid competing for an elected position, limiting himself to a proportional representation seat. In response, the PAN leader has urged the mayor to focus on the city's problems.
“Let’s debate, we have two years of your government and we want to know how you have spent 14 billion pesos. It’s easy to divert the debate towards political trajectories,” Riestra stated.
The PAN leader has pointed out that the capital requires urgent improvements in road maintenance, drainage, and security. According to his statements, it is unclear what concrete actions have been taken to combat thefts, flooding, and potholes, despite the significant investment.
Riestra has also reminded that Mayor Chedraui was a member of the PRI and even aspired to elected positions under the PAN banner before joining Morena. “He should be more concerned about delivering results to the people of Puebla rather than criticizing the opposition,” he added.
The PAN leader has focused on the recent floods recorded during the rainy season, which in his view highlight negligence from the municipal government. “The risk points were identified and yet they still occurred,” he reproached.
The proposed debate would take place in a university forum yet to be determined. Riestra has insisted that the mayor must explain to the public the use of public resources and demonstrate whether his management has improved the living conditions of the capital's residents.
So far, the Puebla City Council has not confirmed whether the mayor will accept the debate. The controversy highlights the political tension between the local government and the PAN opposition, which seeks to scrutinise municipal spending.
For the citizens of Puebla, the potential holding of this debate could provide an opportunity to learn first-hand about the achievements and challenges of Chedraui's administration, as well as the alternative proposals from the PAN.
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