It's hard to find a state in Mexico with more political opportunism than Baja California Sur, at least by the standards of party switching - with the latest gubernatorial election a clear case in point.
Now, former Governor Narciso Agúndez Montaño, cousin of former PRD president Leonel Cota Montaño (who I have utterly lost track of in terms of what party he has jumped on to), will be kicked out from the PRD.
Agúndez Montaño, though nominally of the PRD, was widely regarded to have backed the winning PAN candidate (and PRD defector!) Marcos Covarrubias, yet the straw that broke the camel's back was his recent flirtations with the most cynical, opportunist, most devoid of any principles, party in Mexico, the Green Party (PVEM), which apparently is seeking to recruit Agúndez for some office in 2012. Good riddance.
Monday, June 20, 2011
ILO rejects SME complaint: A victory for Calderón
The Geneva-based International Labor Federation (ILO) notably rejected a 2009 complaint by the Mexican electricians union, Sindicato Mexicano de Electricistas (SME), over the decision by President Felipe Calderón to liquidate the state-owned Luz y Fuerza electric company, regarding this to have been the legal prerogative of the Mexican state.
This is a big setback for SME leader Martín Esparza Flores, and a victory for Calderón and Labor Secretary Javier Lozano.
This is a big setback for SME leader Martín Esparza Flores, and a victory for Calderón and Labor Secretary Javier Lozano.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Calderón wanted to "repress" 2006 sit-in protests in Mexico City
Alejandro Encinas, the PRD candidate for governor in Mexico State, who in 2006 was interim mayor of Mexico City, said that president-elect Felipe Calderón wanted then-interior minister, now-deceased Carlos Abascal, to "repress" the 2006 plantón in Mexico City, where hundreds of thousands of PRD and AMLO supporters protested what they argued was a fraudulent election, through a massive sit-in in the main avenue Reforma, demanding a recount.
Yet the interior minister replied, "Felipe, you are still not president."
Los Pinos vehemently denied this revelation. It is truly remarkable if the claim is true.
Yet the interior minister replied, "Felipe, you are still not president."
Los Pinos vehemently denied this revelation. It is truly remarkable if the claim is true.
Mexico´s internal debt grew 4.5-fold under PAN´s two governments
According to the Banco the México, Mexico´s internal debt - through the issuance of local bonds - the government´s grew 4.5 times since 2000, reaching a fourth of the GDP. or from around 715 billion pesos to today's 3258 billion pesos - almost 29 thousand pesos per inhabitant. This does not include external debt.
Bishop Onésimo Cepeda, with his 130+ million loan, off the hook for now
Onésimo Cepeda, one of the absolute most dubious members of the Mexican clergy and bishop of Ecatepec, got an amparo or injunction that puts an end to a long investigation where Cepade was accused of defrauding an old woman for a collection of highly valuable paintings. The investigation is now officially closed, following a 2-1 decision by the 8th Appellate Court.
To recall, Cepeda was accused of snatching the collection of paintings by faking a 130 million dollars(!) loan to Olga Azcárraga Madero, now deceased. Cepeda claimed he lent the money; his opponents, that it was all a simulation. Nor does Cepeda have to prove where the hell he got the 130 million dollars that he claimed to have lent Azcárraga, the aunt of Televisa president Emilio Azcárraga Jean.
Xavier Olea Peláez, lawyer of the company accusing Cepeda of fraud, claimed trafficking of influences, as two of the judges of the 8th Appellate Court as well as Supreme Court Minister Sergio Valls recently attended Cepeda's birthday party. Cepeda, to be sure, is a very powerful man, and very close to the PRI.
Yet even if no fraud took place, what is there to say of a bishop that is apparently capable of producing 130 million dollars in cash, and refuses to state where the money come from?
(in on of his most truly pathetic columns to date, Carlos Marìn ridicules the charges, yet does not find it worthwhile to even take note of the bishop´s immense wealth)
I am convinced that it is indeed easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than it is for Bishop Cepeda to enter the paradise he claims to believe in.
To recall, Cepeda was accused of snatching the collection of paintings by faking a 130 million dollars(!) loan to Olga Azcárraga Madero, now deceased. Cepeda claimed he lent the money; his opponents, that it was all a simulation. Nor does Cepeda have to prove where the hell he got the 130 million dollars that he claimed to have lent Azcárraga, the aunt of Televisa president Emilio Azcárraga Jean.
Xavier Olea Peláez, lawyer of the company accusing Cepeda of fraud, claimed trafficking of influences, as two of the judges of the 8th Appellate Court as well as Supreme Court Minister Sergio Valls recently attended Cepeda's birthday party. Cepeda, to be sure, is a very powerful man, and very close to the PRI.
Yet even if no fraud took place, what is there to say of a bishop that is apparently capable of producing 130 million dollars in cash, and refuses to state where the money come from?
(in on of his most truly pathetic columns to date, Carlos Marìn ridicules the charges, yet does not find it worthwhile to even take note of the bishop´s immense wealth)
I am convinced that it is indeed easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than it is for Bishop Cepeda to enter the paradise he claims to believe in.
Friday, June 17, 2011
A bullet in the head in Oaxaca
What a terribly sad story: In Oaxaca, the head of the state's secondary education institute Efrén Montes López, died by his own hand, using his .38 special to commit suicide, in a desperate protest over the corruption in Oaxaca's public education sector.
In Oaxaca, following a 1992 deal, the powerful yet very destructive and strike-happy teacher union SNTE Sección 22, has gained for itself the power to name the heads of all levels of the Oaxaca state educational system.
Montes López, a member of Sección 22, was named head only this April, after his predecessor Sigifredo García Martínez, also of 22, was kicked out, accused of corruption.
Within Oaxaca's public education sector, corruption charges abound - hiring teachers without credentials, fraud with hours of work clocked, and much, much more.
One can only speculate what Montes López might have found, and desperately sought to change.
In Oaxaca, following a 1992 deal, the powerful yet very destructive and strike-happy teacher union SNTE Sección 22, has gained for itself the power to name the heads of all levels of the Oaxaca state educational system.
Montes López, a member of Sección 22, was named head only this April, after his predecessor Sigifredo García Martínez, also of 22, was kicked out, accused of corruption.
Within Oaxaca's public education sector, corruption charges abound - hiring teachers without credentials, fraud with hours of work clocked, and much, much more.
One can only speculate what Montes López might have found, and desperately sought to change.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Oaxaca: The first arrest in Cué's corruption probe. Who's next?
The first arrest: Gonzalo Ruiz Cerón, coordinator of transportation under Ulises Ruiz' brutal and corrupt rule of Oaxaca (2005-2011), was arrested by Oaxaca police, following an arrest warrant where he is accused of trafficking in licensing and permits for public transportation.
Governor Gabino Cué, to recall, is following up on his campaign promises by performing a thorough audit of the previous PRI government, and said there are pending processes against a dozen other ex-functionaries of Ruiz' government.
All good and well, to be sure, but will Cué have the guts - and strength - to in the end finally go after Ulises Ruiz himself?
Governor Gabino Cué, to recall, is following up on his campaign promises by performing a thorough audit of the previous PRI government, and said there are pending processes against a dozen other ex-functionaries of Ruiz' government.
All good and well, to be sure, but will Cué have the guts - and strength - to in the end finally go after Ulises Ruiz himself?
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