Saturday, August 27, 2011

Vicente Fox calls for truce with drug gangs

The reactions to the abominable attack in Monterrey, which Calderón understandably refers to as a terrorist act - what else is one to call a targeted attack on civilians, timed to inflict as many deaths as possible? - have of course been condemned by the national and international community, though former president Vicente Fox used the occasion to call for a "truce" with the drug gangs.

Long a proponent of legalization of drugs (though notably not while he was president), as far as I can see this is the first time Fox has made such a declaration, which certainly goes against the grain of other official declarations.

Alejandro Poiré of Mexico´s National Security Council immediately rejected the suggestion of a truce.

TEPJF orders the PRD to renew its national organs

Following a complaint by Carlos Sotelo, elected as PRD senator in 2006, the Electoral Tribunal (TEPJF) ordered the PRD to renew its organs - national congress, national council, and state councils - by Dec. 15.

The PRD sought to postpone the renovation of its national organs in particular, and this might also lead to the cancellation of all its recent decisions in its national congress and council, which would be a great setback to the party. Sotelo, however, is gloating - he opposes the party´s recent decisions such as to hold a national poll to decide the party's 2012 presidential candidate. A further consequence may also be to make invalid and cancel the party's internal election for party president, and leave the party without a national leadership - this, ahead of the crucial gubernatorial election in Michoacán in November.

With such members sabotaging their own party - who needs external enemies?

Coahuila debt scam to be invesitigated by Mexico's attorney general

PAN is not letting go of the debt and apparent document falsification scandal in Coahuila: PAN's presidential hopeful Ernesto Cordero said yesterday that the Mexican Attorney General's office (Procuraduría General de la República, PGR), will launch investigation as well, in addition to other auditing organs, as his finance ministry has sent or will lodge a formal criminal complaint.

Meanwhile, the Confederacion Nacional Campesina (CNC), a PRI corporatist organization, gave its full backing to Moreira

Electoral Tribunal accepts expulsion of Manuel Espino

Mexico's electoral tribunal, TEPJF, voted 4-2 to confirm PAN's expulsion of Manuel Espino from the party. As far as I can see, this is in practice puts an end to this drawn-out process, where Espino - still popular among the most conservative sectors in the party, where he has a certain mass following - has fought tooth and nail against PAN's decision to kick him out of the party for disloyalty to its candidates in the 2010 elections.

Espino has also long expressed his interest in a presidential candidacy, and has his own "movement," Volver a Empezar.

Peña Nieto on Moreira, more

Here's the response of Enrique Peña Nieto to the recent and growing criticism of Humberto Moreira Valdés:
The topic of his state is very distinct and different from what he is responsible for in the party leadership; there (Moreira) has the backing, the support of the national PRI, and obviously, these issues that have been identified, I am certain the leader himself is going to clarify, point out, and be giving explanations."
So while Moreira seemingly contracted an amazing amount of debt and his government sought to cover it up by falsifying documents, that is completely irrelevant to Moreira's work as president of the country's largest party, according to the PRI front runner (!)

So what does he actually think of the specific issue, Coahuila's debt situation, then?
"I have no elements of assessment to discuss what happened in another state."

Hard to come up with a less substantial answer even if one tried. 

Unable to elect leader in Mexico City, PRI appoints Jesús Murillo Karam

Unable to carry out an election for the head of its party branch in Mexico City, national PRI president Humberto Moreira appointed Senatr Murillo Karam the "delegate" or de facto party president instead.

It appears a compromise candidate, of sorts: Murillo Karam has good relations with both Beltrones and Peña Nieto - as well as Beatriz Paredes, PRI´s likely mayoral candidate.

He is, in my opinion, at least one of the more reasonable priístas out there, especially compared with the thugs who control most of the Mexico City party branch.

(Some more background from Proceso here)