Narrative war over UdeG report: state or federal blame?

The UdeG report declaring a "failure" in security in Jalisco has detonated a political bombshell. Political factions immediately began a narrative war, with accusations leveled between the state and federal governments over responsibility for the crisis.

Far from provoking unified reflection and a call for joint action, the devastating security report from the University of Guadalajara (UdeG) has opened a new rift in the already polarized political landscape of Jalisco and Mexico. The diagnosis of "failure" has served as ammunition for a war of blame, where the central question is no longer how to solve the crisis, but who is responsible for it.

The first line of argument, supported by the direct conclusions of the UdeG report, points directly to the Jalisco government. University experts, such as Dr. Marcos Pablo Moloeznik Grüer, were clear in pointing out an "absence of policies and strategies" at the local level, describing a state operating "on autopilot."

This narrative maintains that, regardless of federal factors, the state administration has failed in its primary duty to design and execute a coherent plan to protect its citizens. Criticism is given to the lack of a defined policing model, the absence of prevention policies, and an inability to curb the spread of organized crime within Jalisco's borders.

"In Jalisco, there is a lack of policies and strategies: we live in a state of inertia, where the State is on autopilot, with no strategy to provide minimum levels of security." – Dr. Marcos Pablo Moloeznik Grüer, UdeG.

Almost immediately, a counter-narrative emerged from the opposition to the federal government. PAN Senator Francisco Ramírez Acuña was one of the first to react, asserting that the security crisis in Jalisco is not an isolated phenomenon, but a direct reflection of the "failure of the federal strategy."

This position argues that the Morena government's "hugs, not bullets" policy has created an environment of impunity nationwide, making it impossible for any state, on its own, to contain cartel violence. According to this view, the primary responsibility lies with the government of the Republic for its "inability" and "omissions" in prosecuting high-impact criminals.

"I believe that 'hugs, not bullets' is already a crisis today. I believe this demonstrates seven years of the federal government's, the Morena government's, inability to prosecute the country's criminals." – Sen. Francisco Ramírez Acuña.

While this high-profile battle rages, statements from the Jalisco Congress seem to operate in a parallel reality. Recent statements from the local legislature speak of "continuing to legislate with a sense of justice" and recognizing that "Jalisco is built daily in its communities."

This rhetoric, although well-intentioned, highlights a potential gap between traditional political discourse and the harsh reality described by experts and experienced by citizens. While some speak of building, others denounce a crumbling state.

The political storm unleashed by the UdeG report is just beginning. While political factions engage in blaming, the people of Jalisco remain trapped in the middle of a security crisis that, according to the data, is worsening by the day. Citizens expect solutions, not justifications, and the academic report has made it clear that the time for excuses has run out.