© Reuters. Mexico’s Energy Secretary Rocío Nahle García speaks during a press conference with Haitham al Ghais, Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), in Mexico City, Mexico, on March 9, 2023 REUTERS/Henry Romero
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s Energy Secretary Rocío Nahle has submitted her resignation and will step down immediately, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said on Friday, as he prepares to enter the race for state governor from Veracruz.
Nahle, a 59-year-old chemical engineer who has held office since late 2018, said last month she might run for governor of Veracruz, which borders the Gulf of Mexico and is rich in oil and gas.
“She will be with us in office until today,” López Obrador said, wishing her well and thanking her for her work, particularly at Dos Bocas, a major oil refinery for state producer Pemex in Tabasco that will reach full capacity this year.
The refinery aims to help Mexico become energy self-sufficient, but has not yet begun marketing its products.
In next year’s elections, Nahle could compete on behalf of the ruling MORENA party for the governorship against Miguel Ángel Yunes of the conservative PAN party, a former governor of Veracruz who could seek to return to his former position.
Late on Friday, Morena published a list of its pre-candidates for Veracruz, which includes, along with Nahle, deputies Sergio Gutiérrez Luna and Claudia Tello and the former president of the state party, Manuel Huerta.
Also on the list are Eric Cisneros and Zenyazen Escobar, who resigned from their positions as secretary of the government of Veracruz and secretary of education, respectively.
The current governor of the state is Cuitláhuac García of MORENA.
Nahle sent a message on the social messaging platform X thanking López Obrador. “It’s an honor,” she said. “Mission accomplished!”.
