Mexico’s Economy Ministry Rejects Canaco Playa del Carmen Assembly, Disputes New Board

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Mexico’s federal Economy Ministry has disavowed the February assembly of the National Chamber of Commerce (Canaco) in Playa del Carmen, and consequently rejected Iovana Franco as its president.

In an official letter dated May 28, the ministry stated that the chamber should have refrained from holding its annual assembly until the competent authority issued a ruling. The ministry ordered corrective actions and instructed that the chamber’s Arbitration Commission for 2025 continue pending procedures until their conclusion, respecting the timelines, rights, and procedures outlined in the chamber’s bylaws and applicable laws.

At a press conference, members of the chamber’s last board of directors disclosed the situation. They said they had informed Franco and requested access to the Canaco facilities on Avenida 50 and Calle 22, but received no response. They added that a judicial authority will determine compliance, as there are open investigation files with the State Prosecutor’s Office regarding the handling of a federally regulated institution with federal revenues that is a matter of public interest, according to board members Brisa Galván Villalpando and Guillermina Lomelí López.

The irregularities occurred during the election process for the board of directors, where the “Planilla Dorada” slate allegedly failed to fully comply with the bylaws, as documented.

Regarding former chamber president Adán Toledo Lucero, the board members said he will need to call for a new assembly and elections, but hinted at potential legal liability for delivering the certificate that attested to the alleged victory of the Planilla Dorada slate.

Notably, Toledo Lucero did not attend the press conference called by the board of directors.

The Economy Ministry has given the chamber 30 business days to hold a new assembly.