Mexican presidential frontrunner would focus on renewable energy, water

Presidential candidate of the ruling MORENA party Claudia Sheinbaum holds a campaign rally in Nezahualcoyotl, State of Mexico, Mexico April 9, 2024. /Raquel Cunha/File Photo

ACAPULCO - Mexican presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum on Friday said that if elected, her administration would focus on water management and renewable energy as part of a plan to boost the country's sustainability.

Speaking at a banking event on the country's Pacific coast, Sheinbaum added that she would also focus on developing areas for nearshoring, investing in industrial parks and boosting the country's freight and passenger train networks.

The candidate for the ruling MORENA party, Sheinbaum is strongly favored to win the June elections and her campaign has centered on broadly continuing the policies of current President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

While Sheinbaum said she was not considering a fiscal reform, she said there was room to tweak the current regime to simplify it and to improve the government's tax take.

She also signaled that she may re-evaluate the military's control of key infrastructure such as airports. The military has taken over a number of previously civilian-led roles under Lopez Obrador.

Sheinbaum said her government would strengthen state-run banks, including welfare bank Banco del Bienestar, and continue to respect the central bank's autonomy.

Mexico's trade pact with the United States and Canada represents "enormous potential" for the Latin American nation, Sheinbaum said, while adding her government would maintain trade with China.

(Reporting by Anthony Esposito; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Valentine Hilaire and Kylie Madry)