Mexican President Accuses Ricardo Salinas of Corrupt Ties to Judges and Ministers; Calls for Judiciary to Be Investigated

July 16, 2025 at 03:01 AM EDT

As Grupo Elektra and TV Azteca face growing legal setbacks, Sheinbaum alleges Salinas used judicial influence to evade taxes, while Salinas counters with sharp denials and claims of a government smear campaign.

Tensions between the Mexican government and billionaire businessman Ricardo Salinas Pliego have reached a new high after President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly accused Salinas of maintaining “corrupt ties with judges, magistrates, and ministers” to avoid paying billions in overdue taxes.

According to Proceso, speaking during a press conference, Sheinbaum stated bluntly:

“Salinas Pliego’s empire, instead of paying taxes, chose to hire an army of lawyers and build corrupt ties with judges, magistrates, and ministers who have allowed them to evade paying taxes.”

This comes as Grupo Salinas—parent to Grupo Elektra, TV Azteca, Banco Azteca and TotalPlay—faces combined tax debts that Mexico’s SAT estimates at over 74 billion pesos (almost 4 billion USD).

Courts tighten the vise on Grupo Elektra and TV Azteca

Recent reports by Proceso have documented how Mexican tribunals are increasingly ruling against Salinas’s companies, undermining long-standing legal strategies that critics say have allowed the conglomerate to indefinitely postpone tax enforcement. In late June, Proceso published an exposé on what it described as Salinas’s “modus operandi” to avoid paying taxes, alleging networks of procedural delays and judicial influence.

Meanwhile, opinion columns in Periódico Correo noted that Sheinbaum’s administration has been more willing than previous governments to directly challenge Salinas’s influence, warning this could lead to even deeper investigations.

Salinas responds: “This is a distraction and persecution”

In response, Salinas issued a lengthy statement on X (formerly Twitter), accusing President Sheinbaum of using him as a political scapegoat. In his message, Salinas argued that he has been subjected to “systematic attacks, slander, and media trials orchestrated by your government.” He asked:

“Is it fair that, from the Executive, the Supreme Court is instructed to persecute me for political motives?”

He went on to characterize Sheinbaum’s priorities as misplaced, citing rising organized crime, fuel theft, and economic weakness, and calling on the president to “stop persecuting citizens who work, pay taxes, and create jobs.” Salinas concluded by framing the dispute as a broader battle for civil liberties in Mexico.

Justicia Empresarial’s position

As these high-profile accusations and counteraccusations escalate, Justicia Empresarial urges Mexico’s Council of the Federal Judiciary (CJF), the SAT, and the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) to ensure that all investigations proceed impartially and transparently—without influence from political or economic power.

The credibility of Mexico’s tax system and judicial independence may well rest on whether these multi-billion peso disputes are resolved based on law, not on behind-the-scenes influence.

Sources for Reference:

Proceso (July 9, 2025): https://www.proceso.com.mx/nacional/2025/7/9/tribunales-acorralan-tv-azt…

Proceso (June 27, 2025): https://www.proceso.com.mx/nacional/2025/6/27/exhiben-modus-operandi-de-…

Periódico Correo (July 2, 2025): https://periodicocorreo.com.mx/opinion/2025/jul/02/sheinbaum-y-salinas-p…

Salinas official response on X (Twitter): https://x.com/RicardoBSalinas/status/1943035866378834144