Here stands a plaque. It commemorates the Estado Mayor Presidencial. What was the Estado Mayor Presidencial? It was once in charge of protecting Mexico’s president. This plaque serves as a reminder of that history.
The Estado Mayor Presidencial or EMP translates to Presidential General Staff. The EMP acted as a military technical body. It also functioned as an administrative unit. Its job was to help the President fulfill his duties.
Originally, the EMP was part of the Mexican Army. A General always led the EMP. The last leader was General Roberto Francisco Miranda Moreno. President Enrique Peña Nieto appointed him.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador disbanded the EMP. This happened on December 1 2018. He changed the Organization Act. This act concerned the Mexican Army and Air Force. The Mexican Senate voted on this change. There were 108 votes in favor. No one voted against it. Twelve senators abstained. Ex EMP personnel went back to their original military units. They kept their ranks and benefits.
The Presidential Guard was a large part of the EMP. It had three infantry battalions. There were also two military police battalions. A special force battalion was included. An artillery battalion was part of the guard. A Marine battalion came from the Naval Infantry Force. The Presidential Guard also featured a Cavalry Horse Guards squadron. This squadron had horse artillery. A state artillery honor battery existed. Also a War Band played music.
The EMP had a reaction group. It was called grupo de reacción inmediata y potente or GRIP. Members trained in martial arts. They learned karate aikijutsu and tae kwon do. Kick boxing kung fu judo and silat were taught. They learned tactics to protect high-ranking officials. The President was among those protected.
The Estado Mayor Presidencial helped the President get general information. It planned the President’s activities. The EMP took precautions for the President’s safety. They participated in carrying out these activities. They verified that everything was done correctly.
Until its end the Estado Mayor Presidencial included about eight thousand members. These members came from the army air force and navy. They included federal and capital police. Civilians worked in support roles. These roles included maintenance cooking and administration.
The Estado Mayor Presidencial has a long history. Emperor Agustín de Iturbide had a military corporation in 1823. It provided protection and general services. In 1846 Mariano Paredes created a Facultative General Staff.
In 1851 President Mariano Arista formed a General Staff of seven members. Antonio López de Santa Anna renamed it in 1853. It became the General Staff of his Most Serene Highness. In 1895 General Porfirio Díaz established the General Staff of the President.
In 1916 Venustiano Carranza reorganized the General Staff. In 1942 President Manuel Ávila Camacho transformed the Presidential Adjutancy. It became the Estado Mayor Presidencial.
President Miguel de la Madrid reformed the EMP’s regulations in 1985. President Vicente Fox Quesada issued new regulations in 2004. The last leader of the Estado Mayor Presidencial was General Roberto Francisco Miranda Moreno.
In 2018 Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced he would eliminate the EMP. On November 30 2018 the SEDENA began absorbing over 6000 members.
The decision was based on austerity. It aimed to eliminate privileges for high officials. The EMP had been involved in actions like the Tlatelolco Massacre. It acted as a personal military force for the president. Its actions were outside the constitutional order. The EMP only reported to the president.
The Estado Mayor Presidencial guaranteed the security of the President his family and foreign dignitaries. They secured presidential facilities. They gathered intelligence. The EMP organized official events for the President. It managed assigned budget resources. It coordinated the maintenance of presidential facilities.
The Estado Mayor Presidencial shows an important part of Mexican history. It embodies the evolution of presidential security. It is now a memory of a bygone era. Yet its legacy remains important for understanding Mexican politics. Now the Estado Mayor Presidencial Plaque stands as a silent testament to the past. It invites reflection on power security and change.