Yucatán political dispute intensifies over JAPAY water management

Political tensions are rising in Yucatán regarding the management of the Junta de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado de Yucatán (JAPAY) amid a persistent water crisis. Movimiento Ciudadano (MC) leader Vida Gómez Herrera has faced criticism for her stance on the leadership of Francisco “Pancho” Torres Rivas at JAPAY.

While some reports suggest MC has entered into political agreements to protect current officials and secure budget shares, Gómez Herrera has publicly criticized the PAN and the state government for engaging in “old politics” by fighting over positions rather than addressing the needs of citizens. She argued that simply replacing officials without reforming the technical and operational models of the agency would not resolve the water shortages affecting Mérida and other municipalities.

To address the crisis, Movimiento Ciudadano has proposed the creation of a Water Commission to update regulatory frameworks and establish technical criteria for improving the water supply.