President Claudia Sheinbaum suggested that Alito Moreno return stolen assets instead of pursuing a process to remove his legal immunity [1].
This proposal highlights the ongoing tension between the Mexican presidency and political opposition, shifting the focus from legal punishment to the recovery of public funds for social investment.
Speaking during the daily morning press conference at the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City on April 20, 2026 [2], Sheinbaum addressed the case of Moreno. The president said that the return of assets would be a more productive outcome than the process of *desafuero*, or the removal of immunity from prosecution [1].
Sheinbaum referenced the Institute for Returning to the People what was stolen as a mechanism for this recovery [1]. She said that the reclaimed wealth could be used to fund public infrastructure, and education. "La recuperación de bienes puede destinarse al bienestar social, como la construcción de universidades," Sheinbaum said [1].
The suggestion comes as part of the administration's broader strategy to prioritize social welfare projects over lengthy legal battles. By framing the issue as a matter of public benefit, the president said that the construction of universities would provide more value to the citizenry than the impeachment of a political figure [1].
Moreno has not issued a formal response to the proposal. The press conference, known as *la mañanera*, serves as the primary venue for the president to communicate government priorities and address political controversies [2].
“"La recuperación de bienes puede destinarse al bienestar social, como la construcción de universidades."”
This move signals a strategic preference by the Sheinbaum administration to prioritize tangible social gains—such as educational infrastructure—over the symbolic victory of a political impeachment. By linking the recovery of assets to the 'Institute for Returning to the People what was stolen,' the presidency is attempting to frame the legal pursuit of opposition figures as a means of funding the state's social agenda.
