Sinaloa governor Ruben Rocha Moya shared a document on X asking the state congress to authorise “a temporary leave of absence of indefinite duration, exceeding 30 days.”
Rocha had said Friday on the same platform that he was resuming leadership of Sinaloa state, a role he stepped away from in May to face an investigation by Mexican prosecutors.
His announcement drew criticism from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum who said on Saturday that “no personal interest can ever be placed above the interests of the people” and of Mexico, without explicitly naming anyone in her X post.
“Power without principles becomes arrogance; power without limits, abuse.”
When questioned by journalists about Rocha, the leftist leader referred them to her post.
“I found out through his tweet,” Sheinbaum told reporters of his return to his job.
“I just put out a post on X; that’s all I have to say.”
The US Justice Department charged Rocha and nine other officials of the ruling Morena party in April and demanded their extraditions for allegedly colluding with the infamous Sinaloa Cartel to distribute drugs inside the United States.
It was the first time the US had publicly charged a sitting Mexican politician.
Rocha on Friday insisted he had “committed no crime” and was returning to office “with a clear conscience and head held high.”
The 77-year-old is an ally of Sheinbaum and very close to her mentor, former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Using the threat of tariffs, US President Donald Trump is demanding that Mexico redouble its efforts in the war on drugs.
Trump frequently claims Mexico is governed by politicians linked to drug trafficking and has offered military support to Sheinbaum, who has rejected any such intervention. (AFP)