Poza Rica Mayor Fernando Luis Remes Garza is facing a severe political and social crisis following the flooding caused by the overflowing of the Cazones River, which left severe material damage and affected dozens of families.
The Morena mayor’s administration has been harshly criticized by citizens who accuse him of inefficiency, corruption, and lack of foresight. During his tours of the affected areas, Remes Garza was met with complaints and angry demonstrations from those affected.
In the midst of the emergency, the mayor has been criticized for allocating public funds to build a statue in his honor, sparking outrage among Poza Rica residents.
Citizens and opponents described the work as an act of vanity and insensitivity, especially given the loss of life and property caused by the flood.
The sculpture, commissioned by the mayor himself, has become a symbol of the disconnect between the municipal government and the population, who demand transparency and accountability.
Who is Fernando Luis Remes Garza, “El Pulpo”?
Fernando Luis Remes Garza, nicknamed “El Pulpo,” is a Veracruz politician who became mayor of Poza Rica as a candidate for the Morena party.
Before entering politics, Remes Garza was a renowned and controversial professional baseball player in the Mexican Baseball League.
He pitched for teams such as the Diablos Rojos del México.
His foray into politics took place under the banner of the “Fourth Transformation,” but his administration has been marked by accusations of corruption and the humanitarian and infrastructure crisis stemming from the Cazones River.
“El Pulpo” admits to multimillion-dollar embezzlement in protection projects
The most delicate point of the controversy arose when Remes Garza confessed that more than 14 million pesos earmarked for the construction of a retaining wall for the Cazones River had “disappeared.”
The project was never completed, leaving the city vulnerable to natural disasters like the one affecting it today. The mayor’s admission has sparked allegations of alleged misappropriation of public funds, as well as requests for investigations from citizen groups and opposition legislators.
According to journalist Jorge García Orozco, Roger Remes Rosado, son of Fernando Luis Remes Garza, married in early 2025 in a lavish wedding that sparked criticism.
The event contrasted with the crisis the municipality is experiencing following the flooding of the Cazones River, where the Morena mayor failed to take timely action to prevent the catastrophe.
According to reports, Roger Remes and his partner arrived at the ceremony aboard a new Tesla Cybertruck.
The ostentatious event fueled public outrage over municipal inefficiency and the controversy over the missing funds for a river retaining wall of more than 14 million pesos.
This isn’t the first time the son of the mayor of Poza Rica has been seen boasting about his “ostentatious” lifestyle. In November 2023, he was seen showing off his Mustang while performing maneuvers on the federal highway.
Source: politico
