In his recently presented book ‘Halfway through the road’, the Mexican president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, relates the suggestion jokingly made by the US Vice President, Kamala Harris, to define the possible buyer of the controversial Presidential plane acquired in the previous six-year terms and valued at 125 million dollars.
According to the president in the publication, Harris suggested that he offer the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner, bought in the government of Felipe Calderón (2006-2012) and used during that of Enrique Peña Nieto (2012-2018), “to one of those billionaires who are now organizing space trips and charging $ 250,000 per person”.
In her comment, made during an official visit in June this year, the US Vice President referred to tycoons Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson and Elon Musk, who are fighting the so-called ‘space race’ of billionaires.
The president assured that, although the plane remains on the ground and the Government of Mexico pays for its maintenance, resources are saved. The aircraft, designed for flights of at least five hours, has very high transfer costs.
The issue of the presidential plane has generated controversy because it has been considered a symbol of corruption in the Latin American country. In 2020 its symbolic “raffle” took place and the luxurious aircraft was not left in the hands of anyone, but money was awarded to several winners. The funds obtained were used for health programs.
