After the recent floods that left Poza Rica, Veracruz, under water, they remember the jump of the PRI in Morena that he gave extitular of the Natural Disaster Fund (The foundation), José María “Chema” Tapia Francowho is now “multimillionaire”, associated with episodes of waste, scandal and with a questioned business history.
Mario Maldonado points out a double discourse by the ruling party, since the person who was head of the defunct organization with the former president Enrique Pena Nieto was highly criticized by 4T itself for its trips to Las Vegas and the waste of resources when there was an emergency.
Furthermore, a your company was under investigation surcharges, after a millionaire direct award that the Secretary of National Defense did to him (Sedena). However, Morena launched him as a candidate to govern the capital of Querétaro.
But beyond that, he says, “during his presidential campaign, Claudia Sheinbaum and Mario Delgado They considered it a good painting (Tapia Franco) and they wrapped him up publicly.”
In July 2023, “Chema” Tapia formalized his resigns from the PRI and in April 2024 was nominated by the coalition Morena-PVEMEM-PT for the mayor of Querétaro.
Tapia—he adds—was close to Santiago Nietoformer head of the Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF), and Green operators such as Arturo Escobarwho would have convinced Mario Delgado to accept their candidacy.
That is why, finally, on May 6, 2024, Sheinbaum raised his hand and uttered the phrase that sealed his support: “Querétaro will be in better hands with José María Tapia”
In this context, the journalist indicates that he offered to finance part of his campaign to ensure a multi-member council, that is, a guaranteed space in the council regardless of the electoral result.
Former head of Fonden, associated with dark episodes
The political analyst also adds that Tapia Franco “gained fame as a discretionary operator”, since it managed billions in emergencies and had the power to decide to which states and contractors the resources affected by hurricanes, floods and earthquakes were allocated.
And during the following years, the former head of Fonden built a more than comfortable life
“His name was associated with several dark episodesamong them that of 2013when in the midst of a national tragedy for the hurricanes Ingrid and Manuel was captured in Las Vegas”, writes Mario Maldonado.
On that occasion, the then official was seen betting considerable sums in a casino and staying in a luxury hotela situation that caused national outrage.
“(Tapia) was staying the weekend of September 15 at the Encore hotel, one of the most expensive of the city. He dined at the Japanese restaurant of the hotel complex called Mizumi, where he sang with a mariachi, hired for the Mexican holidays, showing off his bad voice and alcohol poisoning. Another day he had dinner at the very expensive Andreas restaurant in the same hotel and was seen sitting betting up to 20 thousand dollars at the Baccarat tables, which was witnessed by the local green party deputy Jesús Sesma, who, scared, saw the excesses,” Francisco Zea wrote for Excelsior on September 23, 2013.
While he was enjoying himself, the media reported that 150 people had died and billions will be needed to help the victims of the disaster.
Millionaire properties
It also details the properties of José María Tapia Francoin Mexico and abroad, which indicate that he is a multimillionaire man.
- In 2019, Tapia bought a residence in The Woodlands, Texasvalued at more than a million dollars.
- In 2023, he purchased an apartment in Miami for about 100 million pesos.
- In Mexico, he owns two houses in El Campanario, Querétaro,
- Has another house in Houston.
These last three properties, says Mario Maldonado, have a combined value that exceeds 60 million pesos, therefore, “its heritage evolution raises suspicions”.
Business history has also been questioned: Sedena award
However, he points out, the business history of the former Fonden head has also been questioned.
And in 2020, during the pandemic, one of his companiesComprehensive Solutions in Disaster Risk Management, received a direct award from Sedena by $1,350 million pesos to supply medical ventilators.
The contract would have been signed with prices up to double of market value and ended low investigation.
According to Mexicans Against Corruption and Impunity (MCCI), during Tapia Franco’s period as head of Fonden, the Superior Audit of the Federation detected irregularities in the exercise of more than 200 million pesoswhich contributed to the perception of corruption inside the background.
An uncomfortable case: it contradicts official speech
In his column titled “The former head of Fonden is now a Morenista and multimillionaire” published in The UniversalMaldonado adds that Tapia’s case is an uncomfortable case for Morena’s speech and questions the party’s conduct.
“How a former official accused of corruption and waste ended up becoming austerity party candidate and the honesty? And furthermore, why is it used as an example and argument for justify the disappearance of Fonden?”.
The auctioneer points out that “Chema” Tapia wants be a candidate again of the 4T in 2027 and wonders “Will they reward him again?”