Jorge Romero, leader of the National Action Party (PAN) in Sinaloa, denounced the planned return of Governor Rubén Rocha Moya to the state [1].
The situation is critical because it involves allegations of collusion with the Sinaloa cartel. The PAN said that allowing the governor to resume his duties without a legal clearance of these charges undermines the rule of law, and suggests a political shield for high-ranking officials [2].
Romero said that the federal government is preparing the return of Rocha Moya without resolving accusations of collusion with the Sinaloa cartel [2]. According to the PAN leader, the governor's return would be based solely on a federal protection order, known as an amparo federal, rather than a judicial finding of innocence [1].
This legal maneuver, the PAN said, provides a layer of political and judicial protection against accusations originating in the U.S. [2]. Romero said the governor on leave is reappearing “envalentonado y sintiéndose protegido,” or emboldened and feeling protected [1].
The PAN said that the Morena-led government is facilitating this return to avoid the political fallout of a formal investigation [2]. By utilizing the amparo system, the governor can bypass the immediate necessity of proving his innocence in court before returning to public office [1].
Romero said the move represents a failure to address the systemic links between political power and organized crime in the region [2]. The party continues to demand a transparent process that ensures no official returns to power while under a cloud of unresolved criminal allegations [1].
“the government federal prepara el regreso de Rocha Moya sin resolver acusaciones de colusión con el cartel de Sinaloa”
This conflict highlights the tension between Mexico's legal protections, such as the amparo, and the international pressure to dismantle cartel influence within government. If a governor returns to power while U.S.-linked collusion allegations remain unresolved, it may complicate security cooperation between Mexico and the U.S. and further polarize the political landscape in Sinaloa.
