Mayor Francisco Tepepa Miranda Faces Protests Over Absence and Unfinished Road Project

Residents of 12 communities in Naranjal protested the repeated absence of municipal president Francisco Tepepa Miranda, occupying the town hall in early 2026. About 400 people demanded the construction of the Naranjal‑Tezizapa road, a project allegedly funded with more than 22 million pesos that has not begun.

The protest highlighted a pattern of absentee leadership, noting that the previous mayor, Aleyda Tepepa Márquez, was also frequently absent. Citizens complained that essential services stalled, including the drainage of a flooded school in the Axalpa community, which has become a breeding ground for dengue-carrying mosquitoes. When the mayor attempted dialogue, demonstrators blocked his exit, underscoring growing distrust between local authorities and the populace.