The Congress of the State of Sinaloa approved an indefinite leave of absence for Governor Rubén Rocha Moya on Sunday [1].
The move creates a leadership vacuum in one of Mexico's most strategically critical states. The decision follows Rocha Moya's distancing from the Morena party and President Claudia Sheinbaum, sparking a debate over the stability of the state's executive branch.
The legislative body had scheduled a session for 8 a.m. on Monday to select a replacement [3], but that session was postponed [3]. Currently, five candidates are being evaluated to assume the interim governorship [4].
This latest leave follows a period of significant political instability. More than 70 days have passed since Rocha Moya first requested a license [5]. The governor's brief return to office previously sparked criticism, with some describing the move as legal but immoral [6].
Opposition members have reacted to the administrative uncertainty. Deputy Paola Garate demanded an impeachment trial against Rocha Moya, questioning the current state of leadership [3].
"¿Sinaloa se gobierna por WhatsApp?" Garate said [3].
The political friction extends to the federal level. A spokesperson for the National Action Party (PAN) said the federal government was preparing for Rocha Moya's return to Sinaloa [7]. However, the current approval of an indefinite leave suggests a different trajectory for the governor's tenure.
Legal groups have also expressed frustration over the process. The Federation of Lawyers of Sinaloa (FAS) said the state Congress had not responded to formal petitions regarding the governor's status [8].
“¿Sinaloa se gobierna por WhatsApp?”
The indefinite leave of Governor Rocha Moya signals a deepening rift between the state leadership and the Morena-led federal government. By postponing the selection of an interim governor, the Sinaloa Congress has extended a period of executive ambiguity, which may weaken the state's ability to coordinate security and administrative policies during a time of high political volatility.
