Sheinbaum denies impunity to Peña Nieto in the Pegasus case and bribery

Amid mounting media and political pressure, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has made it clear that there is no pact of impunity with former President Enrique Peña Nieto , after the revelation of an investigation by the Attorney General's Office into an alleged $25 million bribe linked to the acquisition of the Pegasus spy system.

The president took advantage of her traditional morning press conference to address the issue, which has revived the debate over the use of power in previous governments and the role of the judiciary in ensuring accountability.

From the National Palace, Sheinbaum emphasized that the investigations are the exclusive responsibility of the Attorney General's Office, headed by Alejandro Gertz Manero , and recalled that the current government has been clear in its stance against past abuses.

"The one who has to explain whether there was sufficient evidence or not is the Prosecutor's Office. It's not the Executive Branch who decides that; it's the Prosecutor's Office who must answer," he stated.

Sheinbaum also recalled that during Andrés Manuel López Obrador 's six-year term, a public consultation was held to decide whether to prosecute the former presidents, but it did not achieve the necessary participation to have binding effects.

Pegasus, a software program created by the Israeli company NSO Group , has been accused of being misused to spy on journalists, activists, politicians, and human rights defenders around the world. Although marketed as a crime-fighting tool, it has become a symbol of covert surveillance.

During Peña Nieto's six-year term, various journalistic investigations revealed that the software had been used to monitor government critics , including journalists investigating corruption cases.

The revelation of an alleged multimillion-dollar bribe to facilitate its implementation has raised alarms both nationally and internationally.

The Attorney General's Office confirmed it has opened an investigation following revelations that a $25 million payment was made to acquire the spyware.

However, doubts are growing about whether this movement represents a genuine effort to clarify responsibilities, or whether it is a belated response to social pressure .

"It's not persecution, but we're not going to cover up for anyone either. Let there be a clear investigation, and let there be punishment if there are any guilty parties," Sheinbaum reiterated.

The Pegasus case has been considered by organizations such as Amnesty International and Citizen Lab as one of the largest espionage scandals of the 21st century. In Mexico, it is estimated that more than 15,000 people have been potentially targeted for surveillance , raising deep concerns about the use of public resources and the protection of privacy.

This new chapter, in which Peña Nieto's name is once again making headlines, raises the possibility that, for the first time, a former Mexican president could face legal consequences for the misuse of intelligence systems.

Claudia Sheinbaum's statement marks a key point in her young presidency. Her open rejection of impunity and her call for the Attorney General's Office to act with transparency could represent a paradigm shift in the relationship between the political and judicial branches .

But it is also a testing time: if the investigations do not advance, the narrative of justice without impunity could crumble.

Mexican society is watching closely. Will this be the beginning of true accountability or just another unfinished chapter in the history of political impunity?