As the primus inter pares of the Mexican bourgeoisie, Slim has received preferential treatment from the government, which he has reciprocated through constant public appearances with the President. When it became clear that the collapse in 2020 of an elevated metro line that had killed twenty-six people was due to poor workmanship by Mr. Slim’s engineering firm, then-mayor of Mexico City Claudia Sheinbaum reached an agreement with the billionaire: the firm would rebuild the line at a cost of about $40 million dollars. The victims received a compensation of $20,000 to $290,000, depending on whether they had been wounded or killed. For less than $50 million dollars, Slim bought his innocence.
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