The Olympic Games are more than a competition between athletes from all corners of the world. Yes, of course, that is vital, but in the end it is a global event in which participating cities take the opportunity to remodel their infrastructure. And it is also a quote closely linked to technological history. In 1968 the Mexico Olympic Games with iconic moments like the Black Power salute by John Carlos and Tommie Smith or the demonstration at the Square of the Three Cultures that ended with dozens of dead.
These are moments that have not gone away from the collective memory in the country, nor has the famous “tenure”, the tax on the possession or use of vehicles. The reason? 50 years later, this tax is still associated with the celebration of the Olympic Games. Although there is fine print in the whole thing.
The “tenure”. As in many other countries, in Mexico there is a tax on vehicle ownership or use. Basically, if you have a car, you must pay this tax which serves to support infrastructure, public transport or promote measures against pollution. The payment varies depending on the displacement of the vehicle, the year of the model and parameters such as the brand and whether the model is top of the line or not. The more luxurious, the more you pay.
There are states in which this possession was repealed years ago, but in which it is still in force, you have to pay no matter what. Otherwise, the license plate cannot be changed in the case of a sale, if you are caught there will likely be an additional late fee and if the vehicle is detained due to a violation, you will also have to pay.
The Olympic Games. Okay, yes, a full-fledged road tax. But the reason why it is controversial is not (only) because in some states it is still valid, while in others it is not, but because the creation of “tenure” continues to be associated with the celebration of the aforementioned Olympic Games.
As often happens, the country had to face an enormous payment to prepare its headquarters for the arrival of international athletes and the attention of the entire planet. Specifically, about 175 million dollars at the time. A lot of money, and “tenure” (we put it in quotes as it is the popular name for the tax) is associated with competition. Basically, what is said is that car owners were the ones who helped pay for the Olympics.
Myth or reality? The relationship between the financing of the ’68 Olympic Games and “tenure” goes back a long way, but what does not change is that the Mexican drivers are clear about two things: that it was going to be a temporary measure and that they continue to pay for the Games that They were celebrated 46 years ago. And not all, since, as we say, in some like Sonora, Sinaloa or Jalisco, the tax is eliminated over the years.
This opinion affects both part of the public and the media, but… is it correct? It is difficult to put yourself in the mind of the person who devised the tax, but as media outlets such as Vanguard either Political Animalthe dates don’t add up. The first time the tax appeared was in the Federal Income Law of 1962, published in December 1961. Later, in the Official Gazette of 1962, the tax was detailed and no mention was made of its temporary nature. In fact, it is stated in Article 10 of Chapter II that “the tax will be assessed annually and must be covered within the first two months of each year.”
The most relevant thing is that Mexico was selected as the headquarters of the Olympic Games in 1963, so the government of Adolfo López Mateos advance a lot to that election that was not safe (it was fighting against other important cities) or, simply, it was a coincidence and that relationship between “tenure” and the ’68 Games is part of the myth.
throwing weapon. In any case, one thing is clear: since then it has mutated and has become an electoral weapon. In the 80s, “tenure” was modified so that vehicles such as airplanes, yachts, motorcycles, helicopters and even water skis were included in the tax, but with the change from federal to local law in 2012, different candidates have played with it , promising that they would eliminate it if they were elected.
And there are curious cases. Enrique Peña Nieto, former governor of the State of Mexico, refused to eliminate it, but I promised that I would cancel it… when his government ended. This forced the new governor to fulfill the commitment of his predecessor, from the same party. Another example is that of Jaime Rodríguez, who promised to eliminate “tenure” if he won in Nuevo León and, after the victory, confessed that they couldn’t do it. “If not, we will not be able to have more police officers. We need 600 million pesos to hire a thousand police officers per year,” he commented.
Logical. In any case, the tax arrived at a time of proliferation of vehicles on the country’s streets, which forced more resources to be invested in order to expand and improve infrastructure. In the same 63, Volkswagen arrived in Puebla and the “vochito“It established itself as a popular car, making this investment in improving roads and highways necessary.
Although, of course, as happens in these cases, the popular legend will continue to lead to strong debates. It is difficult to think that the rulers went so far ahead of the celebration of the Olympic Games that they were not guaranteed, but if that was the case… it was a galactic move on the part of López Mateos.
Because, of course, statements like that of Jaime Rodríguez, linking the road tax with the hiring of police, leave doubt about what this money that should go to infrastructure is used for.
Images | FORTEPAN / Romák Éva
In Xataka | In the 1900 Olympic Games there were already shooting competitions. Cannon shooting, specifically
Add Comment