Two former PAN governors, now senators, admitted to holding water concessions amid accusations of hoarding during the Water Law debate. Francisco Ramírez Acuña and Miguel Márquez Márquez claimed their permits are legal and open to review. Ricardo Anaya countered by threatening to expose larger concessions held by officialism members.
Mexico's Chamber of Deputies approved the Water Law, promoted by President Claudia Sheinbaum, which regulates water use in productive processes like agriculture while ensuring availability for all. The law makes the Mexican state solely responsible for regulating water, bans exchanges between private parties, and assigns distribution to the National Water Commission (Conagua). It establishes a National Water Registry for greater transparency in concessions.
In the Senate, during discussions starting December 4, 2025, Morenista Gerardo Fernández Noroña accused the PAN of hoarding water, dubbing it 'PAAN' and threatening to expose concessions held by senators like Francisco Ramírez Acuña, Miguel Márquez Márquez, and Marko Cortés. Ramírez Acuña, former Jalisco governor, defended his concession for 27 hectares of lemons in Tototlán, Jalisco, requiring 260,000 liters annually for 300 tons of production. He stated it was granted when he was not a public official and offered cancellation if irregularities are found: 'We are willing for the authorities to review us'.
Miguel Márquez Márquez, former Guanajuato governor, disclosed two concessions: one 50 years old with 150,000 cubic meters for 30 hectares, and another 15 years old for 15 agricultural hectares. He insisted there are no deviations: 'Water is odorless, colorless, tasteless; let's not add noise and political carrion'. Both denied hoarding and supported actions against real hoarders.
PAN coordinator Ricardo Anaya retaliated by threatening to 'burn' an officialism senator who holds three times more water volume than all PAN members combined, citing Conagua documents. Farmers protested at San Lázaro with tractors and threaten to boycott Sheinbaum's Zócalo celebration. Marko Cortés has not commented.
Note: Sources contradict on Ramírez's concession volume; one mentions 25,000 cubic meters accused and a need for at least 260 (unit unclear), while another details 260,000 liters.