Mexican Antitrust Watchdog: Autonomous Bodies Will Evolve, Not Disappear

Andrea Marván Saltiel, President of the Federal Economic Competition Commission (Cofece), dismissed President López Obrador’s concerns about the fate of autonomous bodies, asserting that they would evolve and renew rather than disappear.

In an exclusive interview with Elisa Alanís on MILENIO Television, Marván responded to President López Obrador’s remarks regarding the potential disappearance of autonomous bodies, including the one she leads. She stated that she would await the formal presentation of the President’s proposals before defining Cofece’s course of action.

President López Obrador had earlier expressed the belief that autonomous bodies, like Cofece, were established to safeguard private interests. Marván, who assumed the presidency of Cofece in March 2023, countered this notion, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to market freedom and its role in benefiting the public. She stated, “It is time to renew and move forward. We renew efforts to ensure people experience tangible benefits, as seen in medicines, transportation, and public works. We must have more impact on the population so that they see that competition offers more and better goods and services, preventing overpricing.”

As part of the 10th-anniversary celebration of Cofece as a constitutional autonomous body and the 30th anniversary of the first Federal Law of Economic Competition, the commission recently unveiled a book titled “La política de competencia económica en México: retrospectiva, balances y retos” (The Economic Competition Policy in Mexico: Retrospective, Balances, and Challenges). Marván highlighted that the book, featuring opinions and analyses from various stakeholders, reflects on the institutional design of Cofece, the implementation of competition laws, and the accompanying reforms over three decades.

“This work provides a plurality of perspectives on the past and present, contributing to a reevaluation of the direction in which competition policy should move for the benefit of the population, regional development, and productive activities in the country,” she explained.

Marván emphasized that economic competition policy directly contributes to other public policies, extending its impact beyond market functionality. She described it as a tool that propels the economy and benefits the population, stating, “The results achieved at the end of this first decade as a constitutional autonomous entity reaffirm Cofece’s specialization and commitment to obtaining greater benefits for Mexican society, contributing to a fairer and more inclusive economy.”

Source: Milenio