‘Gasolinazo’: How Gasoline Price Gouging Has Spurred “Collective Bad Temperedness” in Mexico · Global Voices
J. Tadeo

Pemex. Photo taken from Flickr ivera. Used under licence CC 2.0
For many Mexicans, 2017 has got off to a shaky start. This is due primarily to increasing fuel costs for cars, which spiked by around 20% overnight (it now takes 20% of the minimum daily wage to buy 1 liter of gasoline) thanks to a practice known as gasolinazo, or “gasoline price gouging”. Another reason for mass dissatisfaction is the appointment of a controversial figure at the forefront of Mexico's foreign policy. Together, these issues have resulted in daily protests online and on the streets, highlighting the extent to which social discontent has increased across the country.
The consistent gasoline price hikes are in direct opposition to the promises made by politicians, including President Enrique Peña, following revisions to constitutional laws on “Energy Reforms” outlined by the president in August 2013, as well as subsequent amendments relating to treasury matters.
As stated by the president at that time:
2) Gracias a la Reforma Hacendaria, por 1era. vez en 5 años, ya no habrá incrementos mensuales a los precios de la gasolina, diésel y gas LP
— Enrique Peña Nieto (@EPN) January 5, 2015
2) As a result of the Treasury Reforms, for the 1st time in 5 years, there will be no monthly increases to the price of gasoline, diesel and LP gas.
Alongside the essential aspects of the reform set forth by the president and approved by the legislature, permission has also been granted to allow private companies to generate and distribute products derived from petroleum and electricity thus opening the industry up to competition. This has weakened the prior monopoly held by the state over all energy-based activities.
However, far from benefiting the general population, the price of gasoline has increased, even as global petrol prices have fallen.
Thousands of citizens have voiced their dissatisfaction with the government following the latest gasolinazo which took effect on January 1.
No cabe duda que éste año como Frida Kahlo, pinta de la chingada #ford#gasolinazo#Dolar
— el choco!!! (@Elpinchechoco) January 4, 2017
There's no doubt that this year is going to be pretty fucked up #ford #gasolinazo #Dolar
Detrás del #gasolinazo estan los #saqueos de la #ReformaEnergetica aprobada x todos los partidos.
URGE QUE LOS TRABAJADORES SALGAN A LUCHAR!
— Anti-imperialista (@MariposaConejo) January 5, 2017
Behind #gasolinazo is the looting (#saqueos) from the Energy Reforms (#ReformaEnergetica), approved by all parties. I URGE ALL WORKERS TO STAND UP AND FIGHT!
Ricardo Kossak gave the following explanation:
Falso que #gasolinazo sea por precio mundial de la gasolina Es por impuestos derivados del boquete fiscal dejado por la #reformaenergética
— Ricardo Kossak (@Kossak87) January 5, 2017
Not true that #gasolinazo has to do with global gasoline prices. It has to do with taxes caused by the financial hole left by the Energy Reforms (#reformaenergética)
Political analyst and director of Grupo Consultor Interdisciplinario, S.C., Alfonso Zárate commented:
Creo que el tema no es el gasolinazo, éste es solo el detonante de un hartazgo ante corrupción desbordada y cinismo de la clase gobernante.
— Alfonso Zárate (@alfonsozarate) January 4, 2017
I don't believe this is about gasolinazo, that is just the trigger for the discontent caused by overwhelming corruption and the arrogance of the ruling class.
Outrage has not been restricted to social media. People are also blocking streets and highways to protest the hike in prices. Some owners are choosing to close service stations in which the fuel is being sold — other stations have been forcibly shut down by protesters — thereby creating a shortage.
Twitter user Leonadro Delgado was amongst those calling for a blockade of service stations:
Sal a protestar, bloquea gasolineras, no compres gasolinas, o haz lo que creas conveniente ¡PERO HAZ ALGO! #ReversaAlGasolinazo
— Leonardo Delgado (@Leonardo11mx) January 4, 2017
Go out and protest, block the service stations, don't buy gasoline or do whatever you think best; BUT DO SOMETHING! Overturn Gasolinazo (#ReversaAlGasolinazo)
Naturally, increases to prices for public transport, food and practically all other services are expected as a result of gasolinazo, which would further inflame the hard-up general public.
President Peña, who, in April 2016, noted a “collective bad temperedness in Mexico”, had been out of the limelight for nearly two weeks due to annual leave.
He reappeared on January 4 to make a controversial announcement which only served to further fuel the discontent.
El Presidente @EPN designó nuevos titulares de @SRE_mx y de la Secretaría de @cultura_mx https://t.co/Rfdr2cl9NB pic.twitter.com/YJnfpu2cKG
— Presidencia México (@PresidenciaMX) January 4, 2017
The President @EPN has appointed new ministers to @SRE_mx [Secretariat of Foreign Affairs] and @cultura_mx [Secretariat of Culture].
https://t.co/Rfdr2cl9NB pic.twitter.com/YJnfpu2cKG
Peña placed Luis Videgaray in charge of the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs, commonly known as the Cancillería (Chancellor's Office). This controversial decision came after Luis Videgaray's removal as head of the Secretariat of Finance and Public Credit at the end of 2016, after it was revealed that he was the driving force behind the highly criticised visit by then-US presidential candidate (now US president-elect), Donald Trump.
Another user, Val, commented on the announcement:
Obedeciendo órdenes de #Trump #videgaray regresa a experimentar a cancillería https://t.co/HcH9qDx9JM
— Val (@valery360) January 5, 2017
Obeying #Trump‘s orders, #videgaray returns to try his hand in the Chancellor's Office
https://t.co/HcH9qDx9JM
Journalist David Monroy gave his thoughts on the appointment:
Luis Videgaray, ex secretario de Hacienda, regresa al gabinete en Relaciones Exteriores. Ponen al país a las órdenes de Trump.
— David Monroy (@DavidMonroyMx) January 4, 2017
Luis Videgaray, former Finance Secretary, returns to the Foreign Affairs cabinet. They are subjecting the country to Trump's orders.
The sentiment was shared by opposition congressman Agustín Basave:
La táctica apapachadora de @EPN y @LVidegaray hacia Trump es la del niño que le lleva dulces al bully de la escuela p’ que deje de agredirlo
— Agustín Basave (@abasave) January 4, 2017
@EPN and @LVidegaray‘s tactic of cosying up to Trump is like the kid who accepts sweets from the school bully because he's stopped beating him up
Twitter users became even more enraged following the minister's first public speech upon assuming his position:
No soy diplomático, nunca he tenido más allá de los encargos propios de la Secretaría de Hacienda en la representación de nuestro país. Ustedes han dedicado su vida entera a ello. Se los digo de corazón y con humildad: vengo a aprender de ustedes, vengo a hacer equipo con ustedes en un momento en que México nos necesita a todos.
I am not a diplomat, my only responsibilities in representing our country have been those undertaken within the Secretariat of Finance. You have dedicated your whole lives to it. I am telling you from the heart and with humility: I am here to learn from you, I am here to build a team with you, at this time when Mexico needs us all.
Following his declaration, artist Rubén Ochoa commented:
“Vengo a SRE a aprender” dice el nuevo flamante secretario Videgaray. Del tamaño de su cinismo es nuestra pendejez por tolerarlos.
— Ruben Ochoa (@rubenochoaa) January 5, 2017
“I am here at the SRE to learn” says Videgaray, our shiny new secretary. The vast extent of his shamelessness matches our stupidity for tolerating it.
As such, the beginning of the new year has proved full of unease and uncertainty for a great number of ordinary Mexicans, whose government appears oblivious to their demands and indifferent to their concerns.