Videgaray is expected to be replaced by José Antonio Meade, social development secretary, who has held the post under former President Felipe Calderón and is considered a safe pair of hands.
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According to Mexico’s Proceso Magazine, the idea to invite both USA presidential candidates was championed by Videgaray, a man described as one of Peña Nieto’s closest allies and confidants.
Pena Nieto also has been ridiculed for not confronting him more directly about comments calling migrants from Mexico criminals, drug-runners and “rapists”, and Trump’s vows to build a border wall and force Mexico to pay for it.
With economic growth sluggish, the president’s popularity at record lows and tensions palpable between the finance minister and other cabinet members, rumours of Videgaray’s impending departure have bubbled under the surface in Mexico for months. Meanwhile on Wednesday night, Donald Trump faced off with his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, albeit indirectly, at a televised “commander-in-chief” forum in NY.
“(It) was seen as such a fiasco that he no longer had the credibility necessary to do his immediate job”, he added.
Meanwhile, Mexico was criticised for appearing to meddle in the USA presidential election process, and Nieto was forced to repeatedly defend the decision of inviting the presidential nominees. It would not only prevent the country from paying for a Trump visit, but it would also prevent the country from paying for Trump’s border wall that he vehemently demands the country supply. “It just shows how little thought went into it”.
Videgaray was reportedly the behind-the-scenes liaison to the Trump campaign.
“Well, I think absolutely”, he said. Mr Trump has proposed blocking remittance payments to Mexico to finance his wall. Meade “is the best politician we have in Mexico right now and if anybody was going to be put in such a critical situation, he would be the best choice”. I mean, we’ve been badly hurt by Mexico.And if you look at what happened, look at the aftermath today where the people that arranged the trip in Mexico have been forced out of government. “That’s how well we did”.
The 48-year-old, who ran Pena Nieto’s election campaign, was widely seen as the president’s top aide, with a huge influence on policy.
Pena Nieto announced Videgaray’s resignation at a news conference. Pena Nieto ordered an inquiry, which cleared both of any wrongdoing. Luis Enrique Miranda Nava will take over the social development post.
Luis Videgaray has been a close confidant of Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and was a possible contender for the ruling party’s presidential nomination in 2018.
“Videgaray was a good finance minister; he led the country’s transition in an important moment”, he said.
The economy contracted in the second quarter for the first time in three years, and the collapse in global oil prices has sabotaged Pena Nieto’s hopes that a landmark energy reform would spur a wave of foreign investment.
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“The goal is to foresee and prevent any negative effects on Mexico if Trump becomes president of the United States”, he said.
