MEXICO CITY — The Mexican president has been using commercial flights while trying to sell — and even raffle off — the presidential plane. After months being stored in California, the plane is back in Mexico City, awaiting a buyer. The president’s opponents say it’s a distraction from the coronavirus outbreak.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador says the money from the sale will be used to improve public health facilities. He says two buyers are interested so far.
"The plane proves that previous governments were run by the wealthy, for the wealthy, leaving those impoverished behind," López Obrador said.
But opponents say the sale is a smoke screen to overshadow Mexico’s increasing death toll from the pandemic.
The conservative National Action Party (PAN) is demanding the president immediately use the reserve funds destined for the plane and the raffle to face the virus outbreak.
