I am not a legal expert, but it seems to me that Mexico's Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE) has truly gone overboard this time, far beyond its rights and duties: A couple of days ago, IFE decided to sanction the PRD and PAN for having held a debate among "pre-candidates," or among those vying to be their party's nominee for the governorship of Nayarit.
This in effect bans what are really primaries, and is an enormous extension of the IFE's reach.
The PT and Convergencia, to their discredit, had complained that a PAN and a PRD candidate, without officially having become their party's nominee, held a televised debate months ago, and IFE now struck it down as illegal.
Yes, holding a political debate is illegal until one is the party's nominee.
Waiting for a an AMLO-Ebrard televised showdown? A Peña Nieto-Beltrones debate over who has the best program? Forget it - IFE has banned it.
This is truly preposterous.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Setback for abortion rights: Extremist state-level abortion legislation left standing
The Supreme Court voted 7-4 in Mexico to overturn extremist anti-abortion legislation on the state level (in Baja California), but it wasn't enough: Eight votes were needed.
This is tragic news, on very many levels. In Baja California (and possibly SLP - vote still pending over its legislation), many, many, women will die from unsanitary illegal abortions or will denied having abortions even if giving birth may cause their death. In other states, PRI and PAN local legislators will feel emboldened by the Supreme Court decision to press similar legislation.
The PRD and parts of PRI rightfully criticized Calderón's shameful intervention in the debate yesterday, threatening to push legislation to withdraw Mexico's reservations against the 1969 San José Pact.
The day after pill? Forget it; it will now be defined as murder.
A miscarriage? Unless you can prove it, you may be facing murder charges.
A sad day yesterday for Mexican women and human rights.
This is tragic news, on very many levels. In Baja California (and possibly SLP - vote still pending over its legislation), many, many, women will die from unsanitary illegal abortions or will denied having abortions even if giving birth may cause their death. In other states, PRI and PAN local legislators will feel emboldened by the Supreme Court decision to press similar legislation.
The PRD and parts of PRI rightfully criticized Calderón's shameful intervention in the debate yesterday, threatening to push legislation to withdraw Mexico's reservations against the 1969 San José Pact.
The day after pill? Forget it; it will now be defined as murder.
A miscarriage? Unless you can prove it, you may be facing murder charges.
A sad day yesterday for Mexican women and human rights.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Paredes keeps deafening silence on abortion issue
In 2012, Mexico City will elect a new mayor. They deserve someone with far more guts than Beatriz Paredes Rangel, likely PRI candidate: While the Supreme Court is undertaking a revision of extremist legislation on abortion enacted in two of Mexico's states, Paredes - former PRI leader, and someone who claims a "center-left" political orientation, refuses to even state her position on abortion, and the Supreme Court's upcoming decision. To recall, the legislation removes any right for women to choose to have an abortion, even in cases of rape, and declares that life begins at "conception."
Yet Paredes won't say anything at all about what she thinks about this legislation, virulently hostile to women, which was introduced in half of Mexico's state with the backing of her party when she was its national president.
This is political cowardice, pure and simple - and not worthy of a political leader
Yet Paredes won't say anything at all about what she thinks about this legislation, virulently hostile to women, which was introduced in half of Mexico's state with the backing of her party when she was its national president.
This is political cowardice, pure and simple - and not worthy of a political leader
"Enough of Televisa Abuses" NGO formed ("Ya basta de abusos de Televisa")
Now here's a civic organization that I'd gladly support: The recently formed "Ya basta de abusos de Televisa" or "Enough of Televisa Abuses," referring to the powerful yet much-criticized television network Televisa.
Its objective? To remove Televisa's license to broadcast. That'll be the day, but I still am allowed to long for it.
Its objective? To remove Televisa's license to broadcast. That'll be the day, but I still am allowed to long for it.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Live from Mexican Supreme court - crucial abortion decision today
Here you can watch the deliberations live.
Abortion rights in Mexico: Crucial day as Supreme court votes
It's front page news in El Universal, La Jornada, and Milenio, and for a reason:
Today is an extremely important day for abortion rights in Mexico.
Following a splendid initiative by Supreme Court Minister (judge) Fernando Franco González Salas, the Supreme Court is deliberating over whether the highly repressive state laws passed in San Luis Potosi and Baja California where a woman has essentially no right over her body to have an abortion whatsoever.
If it rejects the laws, it will be a huge setback for the restrictionists, who have pushed extremist legislation (no day after pill, no abort if incest, rape, etc) in a majority of Mexico's state.
Even Calderón waded clumsily and stupidly into the debate, arguing there is a "constitutional right to life" and that anti-abortion legislation falls under this.
Rumors are the vote will vote narrowly in favor of rejecting the SLP - BC laws. Stay tuned for the news.
Today is an extremely important day for abortion rights in Mexico.
Following a splendid initiative by Supreme Court Minister (judge) Fernando Franco González Salas, the Supreme Court is deliberating over whether the highly repressive state laws passed in San Luis Potosi and Baja California where a woman has essentially no right over her body to have an abortion whatsoever.
If it rejects the laws, it will be a huge setback for the restrictionists, who have pushed extremist legislation (no day after pill, no abort if incest, rape, etc) in a majority of Mexico's state.
Even Calderón waded clumsily and stupidly into the debate, arguing there is a "constitutional right to life" and that anti-abortion legislation falls under this.
Rumors are the vote will vote narrowly in favor of rejecting the SLP - BC laws. Stay tuned for the news.
Emmy for Presunto Culpable / Presumed Guilty
Fantastic news for the makers of Presunto Culpable / Presumed Guilty: It was just awarded an Emmy for Best Investigative Journalism.
It's a fantastic documentary, and I've showed as well in my seminar on Mexican politics, where it was most definitely a crowd pleaser. Go see it if you haven't!
It's a fantastic documentary, and I've showed as well in my seminar on Mexican politics, where it was most definitely a crowd pleaser. Go see it if you haven't!
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