Public Information on Zedillo’s Salary

In response to your editorial, “Mexicans Ask Right Questions” (July 9), and your article, “Mexicans Go to Court to Learn Zedillo’s Salary” (July 7), I would like to provide the following comments.

Contrary to the information presented in both pieces, and to the information provided by Alianza Civica, President Ernesto Zedillo, on his own initiative and without any court request, stated publicly in June 1995 his salary and why he declined to accept other income that he was due to receive. For more than a year, it has been a matter of public record that the president reduced his salary 52% to a monthly amount equal to $7,780. Nevertheless, on June 12, Alianza Civica stated without foundation that the president’s income had increased by 328%, a baseless assertion the office of the president has corrected on two different occasions (June 13 and June 18).

Also the resources provided to the president’s office are not “secret,” but public information contained in the budget submitted to and passed by Congress every year, as was stated in the June 13 press release.

ANTONIO OCARANZA

Director for International

Information, Office of the

President, Mexico