The perverse practices of "notarized promises"

I recall Gancho has railed against this in the past, and I can only wholeheartedly concur and repeat criticism against the practice of particularly PRI candidates to sign a range of "promises" during political campaigns, and then to have them physically notarized (!). It is utterly ridiculous first and foremost because these "promises," which in the case of Mexico State and Enrique Peña Nieto reached a number of around six hundred or so, tend to be very minor and encompass only a fraction of total budget expenses.

But even more so, it is a remarkable self-admission on part of the politicians: I need to sign these campaign promises with a notary, because you really can't trust me on my word. And to add: How on earth would anyone be actually sanctioned for breaking these promises? A fine? Prison? Public shaming? Why bother to sign at all?

Yet true to form, PRI's candidate-by-designation to be Mexico State governor, Eruviel Ávila, just promised that  he would do the very same thing - and that the number of promises, mind you, would even surpass his predecessor's 600. Thank goodness, now we now he is really serious!