authoritarian tantrums

The consummated act of hastily approving the 2023 budget for Jalisco without due study and with the clear punishment of the highest house of studies in our state, once again revealed the authoritarian qualities of a government that has erred in what it should be its backbone: the education and training of citizens. The old resentment and folly of the state governor towards the University of Guadalajara culminated in an act of submission by the majority of the local deputies, who acted in a directed hurry to approve, in fast track, one more violation of the University of Guadalajara.

Not satisfied with rejecting the justified requests of the UdeG, to expand the budget for next year, the deputies had the luxury of placing the cherry on the cake by approving the lowest budget in history, in addition to a reduction of 37 million pesos, alleging that the university has spent that amount on its legitimate demands and public demonstrations to request more resources. The legislators forgot, with this, the guarantees stipulated in the Mexican Constitution, which safeguard the free expression of ideas and the association ordered for that purpose.

It is not new that we Jalisco have to suffer with the whims of the state president, because it is enough to remember the executive’s tampering in the reallocation of resources labeled for the Museum of Environmental Sciences. The Governor’s insensitivity, capriciousness, and closure are the seal that will distinguish this government; This is how he will go down in history and will be remembered for his obvious lack of interest in the youth of Jalisco, as well as his obsession with not having counterweights and his desire to crush those who think differently from him.

The governor’s attitude will generate a huge educational gap in our entity. Young people who aspire to a professional preparation will see their dreams cut short by the irresponsible decision to reduce the budget. This concern was more than explicit in the immense response to the demonstration called on November 23, an event that brought together the echo of more than 100,000 university voices that demanded that the executive enforce the full right of access to education.

For its part, the University of Guadalajara has earned yet another badge in its fierce struggle to build more dignified spaces, generate opportunities and stay at the forefront as one of the most important universities in the country. The noble exercise of the free and peaceful expression of the ideas of those who integrate it will continue to be the most powerful weapon against any policy of repression and political beating to the detriment of education. Let’s hope that the authoritarian tantrums that are causing so much damage to our State will soon stop.