Daughter of pro-tobacco pro-AMLO Senator Yeidckol Polevnsky works for big tobacco

Yeidckol Polevnsky,  from Mexico State, is among the most pro-AMLO of PRD's senators, which is hardly surprising since Polevnsky owes her current job to him: In 2005, he pushed this businesswoman with a very questionable past to be the PRD's candidate for Mexico State governor, yet even though she ended up third - even behind PAN - AMLO still forced through her candidacy to be a federal senator, despite this woman having absolutely no political experience. Amazingly, AMLO has repeatedly dropped her name as a possible candidate he will support to be governor of Mexico in 2011.


Yet a new scandal is brewing, which should surprise no one who has followed Polevnsky: She, with a handful of other legislators, recently voted against a 7-peso hike in tobacco taxes, though giving no justification. Notably, all the PT, Convergencia and PRD legislators voting against the tax were pro-AMLO. 


Now, El Universal reveals that Polevnsky's daughter Shirley Almaguer Camacho holds a high position in the Mexico branch of British American Tobacco, which sells leading branches in Mexico. Would that affect her vote? Surely not, says the senator.


According to the newspaper,

Senator Polevnsky denies that her rejection [of the law] is based on her daughter's position, but rather that she as former vice president of Canacintra understands the business sector: "Legal certainty - you cannot change legislation all the time. How serious would legislators be if we changed the story all the time?"

Q: "Does your daughter's position affect your positions?

A: "Absolutely not. There is no conflict of interest; their work does not influence my work. I deny this accusation"

Three comments 


1)  On its face, her response is idiotic. The senator should have excused herself from any vote on this legislation due to these family ties, which she certainly did not reveal to anyone until El Universal discovered them. It is highly worrisome that senators will vote on legislation and even chair committees on issues where they are clearly partial. 


2)  Her answer sounds like it was mouthed by a neoliberal rightwinger rather than a senator from a party that defines itself as socialist. She votes against a tobacco tax in the name of giving business sectors more certainty? As a senator, it is her damn role to change legislation!


3) Senator Polevnsky's behavior seriously questions AMLO's judgment, as he continues promoting this legislator, who clearly has a conflict of interest and sounds more like a neoliberal rather than a progressive, as a likely candidate for governor in Mexico State in 2011. Her credibility as a leftwing, progressive senator is shattered. In the process, that of AMLO is also taking a serious hit.