Chanito Fights Playa del Carmen Name Change in Court

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — José Luis “Chanito” Toledo Medina, a local councilman, has filed an appeal against the dismissal of an injunction lawsuit challenging the official renaming of the municipality from Solidaridad to Playa del Carmen. Toledo alleges the name change was enacted without public consultation.

Legal Battle Over Municipal Renaming

The Ninth District Court dismissed Toledo’s indirect injunction request under case file 340/2025. The councilman contends the federal judge failed to conduct a thorough review before rejecting the petition under recent amendments to Mexico’s Amparo Law, which restrict suspensions of general legal norms. These reforms were pushed through by the Morena bloc in the federal Congress.

Toledo seeks to nullify the constitutional and municipal law revisions that enabled the name change. His appeal, filed on March 31, requests the case be elevated to a higher court—specifically, one of Cancún’s Collegiate Circuit Courts.

Judicial Process Delayed by Holiday Break

Due to the Holy Week holiday, non-urgent judicial proceedings, including Toledo’s appeal, remain on hold. A resolution is expected once federal courts in Cancún resume operations.

In court documents, Toledo’s legal team argued: “These are norms of general application in the legal sphere.” The filing further states: “The councilman submits a complaint against the March 31 ruling that dismissed the injunction outright and requests the case be forwarded to the appellate tribunal.”

Toledo has vowed to pursue additional legal measures if necessary, asserting the name change lacked proper public input. The case highlights ongoing tensions over local governance reforms in Quintana Roo.