Santiago Nieto’s Path to the Governorship
Santiago Nieto Castillo, the former head of Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF), has publicly declared his intention to run for governor of Querétaro. In an interview on El Financiero Televisión’s 'EntreDichos,' the former federal official outlined his strategy to secure the Morena nomination, which he intends to bolster through an alliance with the Green Party (PVEM) and the Labor Party (PT).
Nieto, who has also served as head of the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) and acting attorney general of Hidalgo, acknowledged the 30-year track record of PAN governance in Querétaro. "There is a high level of development, yes; we must admit what has been done well, but we must change what has been done poorly," he stated during his conversation with journalist René Delgado.
Allegations of a 'Real Estate Cartel'
The candidate built his political platform on a direct critique of what he calls a "real estate cartel" operating within the state. According to Nieto, this group is directly responsible for the region's mobility issues, the water supply crisis, and the rising cost of living for residents. "It is the real estate cartel that is generating the problems with water, mobility, and the rising cost of living," the former official maintained.
Regarding security, Nieto warned of a decline in state indicators, noting that Querétaro currently ranks 12th nationwide in crime rates. "The level of security it once had no longer exists, and it is crucial to reverse this decline and loss of safety," he declared, marking a significant departure from the narrative of the current state administration.
Challenging the Political Elite
Nieto also questioned the structure of Querétaro’s political elite, arguing that the PRI and PAN operate as a single entity due to family ties and power dynamics. To illustrate this, the candidate pointed to the case of PAN federal deputy Tania Palacios Kuri, the granddaughter of the late PRI leader Mariano Palacios Alcocer and the niece of the current PAN governor, Mauricio Kuri González.
The former UIF head emphasized that his project seeks to offer an alternative to this system without dismantling the state's previous progress. Nieto confirmed that he has already begun reaching out to the leadership of the PVEM and the PT to coordinate the 'Fourth Transformation' defense committees—a necessary step toward securing the official gubernatorial nomination.
