José María “Chema” Tapia, former director of Mexico’s now-defunct Fondo de Desastres Naturales (Fonden) under President Enrique Peña Nieto, has ignited political controversy after being nominated by Morena as its candidate for mayor of Querétaro. Tapia’s candidacy has drawn sharp criticism due to his past involvement in Fonden, an agency widely accused of corruption and mismanagement.
President Claudia Sheinbaum recently condemned Fonden, calling it “useless and run by corrupt politicians,” during a public address on October 15, 2025. She emphasized that the fund was often exploited to “profit from people’s tragedies,” referencing past scandals where officials allegedly misused disaster relief resources. Ironically, Sheinbaum’s own party is now backing Tapia—whom critics label as the “head of those corrupt officials”—for a prominent municipal role.
Tapia’s tenure at Fonden was marred by allegations of lavish spending and negligence. Notably, he was photographed vacationing in Las Vegas while hurricanes Manuel and Ingrid battered Mexico’s coasts in 2013. His reemergence in politics under Morena has sparked outrage among opposition leaders and civil society groups, who question the party’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
The scandal has also reignited debate over Morena’s internal vetting process and the broader implications of political recycling. While Tapia has not been formally charged with any crimes, his association with a discredited institution and his sudden rise within Morena have raised eyebrows nationwide.
As the 2026 municipal elections approach, Tapia’s candidacy is expected to be a flashpoint in Querétaro’s political landscape, testing Morena’s credibility and Sheinbaum’s anti-corruption narrative.
Chema Tapia’s X Ray:
José María “Chema” Tapia, former Director of Fonden under Peña Nieto and Morena’s candidate for mayor of Querétaro, is now not recognized by the ruling party.
- Tapia’s Properties:
- 18 restaurants.
- A house in Houston (US$1 million).
- A US$6 million apartment in Miami.
- 3 houses in El Campanario (the best neighborhood in Querétaro).
- An apartment in Acapulco.
- A house in Naucalpan (State of Mexico).
While he was Director of Fonden during the Peña Nieto administration, the ASF detected a diversion of 200 million pesos.
In 2019, he joined Morena.
In 2020, he sold COVID ventilators to SEDENA under a direct award for nearly 1.2 billion pesos.
Sources: Proceso / Periodico Correo
 under President Enrique Peña Nieto, has ignited political controversy after being nominated by Morena as its candidate for mayor of Querétaro.){kind=link}