Mexican governor requests leave, one day after returning to office

Sinaloa Governor Ruben Rocha Moya has requested that the state congress grant him a temporary but indefinite leave of absence exceeding 30 days, according to a document he shared on social media platform X. In his post, he wrote that "Sinaloa, the nation, and the movement of transformation are above everything."

The request came just one day after the 77-year-old politician announced on X that he was resuming leadership of the state. Rocha had previously stepped down in May to face an investigation by Mexican prosecutors.

US charges

In April, US prosecutors alleged that Rocha and nine other current or former officials from the ruling Morena Party had conspired with a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel to smuggle drugs into the United States in exchange for bribes and political backing. It marked the first time the US had publicly filed charges against a sitting Mexican politician. Rocha has repeatedly denied the allegations, suggesting they are part of an effort to damage the left-leaning Morena party.

Backlash over his return

Rocha's brief return to office drew criticism from within the government and his own party. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that "no personal interest can ever be placed above the interest of the people and the nation," adding that "power without principles becomes arrogance; power without limits, abuse; and power that forgets the people ends up confronting history." She said Mexico needed public servants who did not use their positions to pursue personal ambitions.

Rocha had been regarded as an ally of Sheinbaum and remains close to her mentor, former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.