Carlos Romero Deschamps: A controversial figure in Mexico’s political landscape
Carlos Romero Deschamps, a prominent figure in Mexico's political and labour scene, passed away on October 19, 2023, at the age of 79, leaving behind a legacy marked by controversy and influence.
Romero Deschamps was a long-serving member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), a party that played a significant role in Mexico's 20th-century politics. Through his connections and political manoeuvring, he became a powerful figure and accumulated substantial wealth, which some believed was acquired through questionable means.
In late 2019, Romero Deschamps abruptly resigned from his position as the head of the primary union representing employees of the national oil company, Pemex. His resignation came just days after President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced that he was under investigation for corruption, though Romero Deschamps consistently denied these allegations and was never prosecuted.
During his four terms as the leader of this massive 100,000-member union, one of the largest in Latin America, Romero Deschamps defended his record. He pointed to improvements in pensions, healthcare, and salary increases as accomplishments that benefited the workers.
In 2012, Romero Deschamps was elected to Mexico's Senate for a six-year term. This coincided with the return of the PRI to power, with Enrique Pena Nieto as the President, after being in opposition for twelve years. He had previously served multiple times in both the lower house of Congress and the Senate.
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Throughout his career, Romero Deschamps faced allegations of corruption. In 2013, Forbes included him in its list of the "10 Most Corrupt Mexicans." He also weathered accusations related to the "Pemexgate" scandal, where he was accused of diverting funds to a presidential campaign. While others faced penalties in connection with this case, he emerged unscathed.
Despite an annual union salary of about $23,000, Romero Deschamps and his family attracted attention for their extravagant lifestyles. A May 2012 story in the Mexican newspaper Reforma stated that Romero Deschamps possessed a $1.5 million British-built yacht, which he kept docked in the Cancun beach resort close to his waterfront condo, which was estimated to be worth approximately $1.3 million.
In the same year, his daughter Paulina shared photos from a trip to Europe on Facebook. The photos featured her travelling with a British bulldog and were taken in five-star hotels and private jets. The images sparked a media frenzy in Mexico, and the Facebook page was quickly removed.
According to Mexican media, the union leader reportedly gave his son Jose Carlos a Ferrari Enzo for over $1 million early in 2013. The younger Romero Deschamps is said to have kept other expensive vehicles at his Miami home.
On the occasion of Carlos Romero Deschamps' passing, President Lopez Obrador expressed condolences to the family during his regular morning press conference, reminding the nation that, irrespective of his controversial career, "no one should wish for somebody's death."
