Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Thursday a “sophisticated camera” had been found in his offices, but added that he was unconcerned because he has nothing to hide.
“A few days ago, in one of the rooms in the (presidential) offices, they found a sophisticated camera, one of those tiny little ones. We were being recorded,” https://t.co/UX8oRJD114 #AndresManuekLopezObradol #Mexico
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“A few days ago, in one of the rooms in the (presidential) offices, they found a sophisticated camera, one of those tiny little ones. We were being recorded,” he told a news conference at the National Palace, the colonial building in central Mexico City where he lives and works.
Lopez Obrador, an anti-establishment leftist elected last year, did not indicate who could be behind the alleged espionage but said he was not worried.
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“What do they achieve by doing that? Everything we discuss is completely legal and transparent. There’s nothing they could use against us,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s a sensitive issue. We’ve got nothing to hide, Everything we say should be in the public domain.”
Lopez Obrador is known for his laid-back approach to presidential security.
President of Mexico dissolved the presidential guard upon taking office, relying instead on a small team of bodyguards, and mingles closely with crowds on his trips around the country – which he criss-crosses on commercial flights, having also put the presidential jet up for sale.
“The people will protect me,” he is fond of saying.
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Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s was recently under fire when partisans in Tabasco approved legislation that metes out stiff punishment for protests, including prison sentences of up to 20 years for blocking access to businesses and 13 years for impeding work on public works projects.
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López Obrador echoed those sentiments in his Monday press conference, saying Pemex and its contractors had previously been extorted by individuals charging fees on roads leading to petroleum sites.
López Obrador swept elections in 2018, claiming the presidency and majorities in Congress, after capitalizing on discontent over corruption and promising to end repression against protesters, human rights and environmental defenders and journalists.
AFP with additional input by GVS news desk