Fistfight! And fire extinguisher! PAN in Michocán comes to blows over Cocoa vs. Marko

I do not condone violence and even less to solve political conflicts. Yet the internal turmoil in PAN's state branch in Michoacán, where the party is divided over whether President Calderón's sister Luisa María "Cocoa" or Senator Marko Cortés should be its gubernatorial candidate for the November election, sounds like something out of a slapstick movie:

"[Marko's campaign coordinator] Eduardo Chavira Garcia came to the other end of the hall, where [Luisa María's coordinator] Mariano Torres stood,  and suddenly planted a coupled of blows to his face....Mariano Torres lost his balance and fell backward on a fire extinguisher, which got turned on and released powder over those cheering. Shoving ensued between supporters of two rival groups, but there were no more blows, although insults and threats.Members of the Presidential Guard, who constantly guard Luisa María Calderón, merely observed the scene and surrounded Cocoa."

(though El Universal reports the EMP guard intervened on behalf of Cocoa's supporters)

Refreshing to hear the PRD isn't the only party with unorthodox dispute mediation techniques.

Doña Ifigenia Martínez: More dangerous that PAN continues than PRI returns

Ifigenia Martínez is a grand dama in many ways. She was the first woman to hold a range of offices in Mexico - all the time while a priísta - such as ambassador to the United Nations, and graduated as an economist with a master's from Harvard - the first mexicana to do so. On a personal note: I also had the chance to interview her at lengths a couple of years back, and found her a most wonderful and endearing lady, who was very sharp, but from whom it was nearly impossible to extract a straight answer to any of my questions. I found it remarkable that someone of her age and position would be so guarded.

With the years, Doña Ifigenia notably returned to active politics, and is now a federal deputy for the PT, or Workers Party, often considered a more "radical" party than the PRD. In an interview she said she regards the PRI's return as much less of a threat than a continued rule of the PAN.

I find this baffling, and not only given the macroeconomic indicators, where most every study I've read suggests the christian-democratic PAN has been far more successful in alleviating poverty than the PRI:
As a founder of the Corriente Democrática, a progressive current within the PRI that included Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas and Porfirio Múnoz Ledo that eventually ditched the PRI to later form the PRD, her preference for the PRI over PAN is even more perplexing and, might one add, disappointing.

"Demócratas en Movimiento": New PRD mega-coalition rallies behind Ebrard

No surprises in terms of who they are, but their statement is noteworthy nonetheless in terms of making a point: The  internal PRD factions (technically termed corrientes de opinión) Nueva Izquierda, Foro Nuevo Sol, Alternativa Democrática Nacional,  Izquierda Renovadora en Movimiento, and Unidad y Renovación, formed a coalition called "Demócratas en Movimiento" to back Marcelo Ebrard for the 2012 PRD candidacy.

All, with the partial exception of UNYR, belong to the social democratic or democratic socialist factions of the PRD, and their backing of Ebrard has hardly been a secret (UNYR was formerly a very pro-cardenista faction and at times appeared quite "radical," yet is now largely centered around the Transportation secretary of Mexico City, Armando Quintero).

The earlier spats between Ebrard and particularly Nueva Izquierda in 2007-09 to me always appeared pointless - e.g. Ebrard backed AMLO's candidate for the party presidency in 2008, even though he was much closer ideologically and programatically to these social-democratic and socially liberal factions. Ebrard and NI were always natural allies, and Ebrard did not distance itself from the new group, but naturally embraced it, as he should - AMLO, lest we forget, have a 5-year head start on Ebrard, having built his new movement since 2006.

What is important is that all these five factions - NI and ADN by far the largest of them - together have an absolute majority within the PRD, including on its national council, should the PRD decide to determine its 2012 candidate through a vote there.

Gregorio "Greg" Sánchez absolved of narcotrafficking, charged with laundering money

Gregorio "Greg" Sánchez, the PRD mayor of Cancún who was dramatically arrested ahead of the Quintana Roo gubernatorial election last year for drug trafficking, was absolved of said charged. Yet as he left prison, he was re-arrested on money laundering charges.

Whatever Sánchez's guilt - or not - I wish we didn't have to live through these charades, where a person is arrested, then released as charges are dropped or exonerated, while then being re-arrested as s/he literally walks out the prison door. To call it undignified is an understatement.

Enrique Peña Nieto says yes to alliance with Gordillo

Despite what appears to me not only widespread but also increasing denunciation of Elba Esther Gordillo, her SNTE teachers union, and her PANAL party from prominent panistas, priístas, and perredistas, at least she has one firm backer: Outgoing governor of Mexico State Enrique Peña Nieto, who declared his willingness to make deals with Gordillo in order to win the presidency in 2012. 

More on Cherán, Michoacán: Wonderful story in El Universal

A highly recommended read is today's story in El Universal of Cherán, Michoacán, a small town that heroically took up arms against organized crime and illegal loggers, kicked out the PRI mayor, and has so far lived to tell the tale.

The article in particular highlights the help and support from Cherán's expat community in the United States, which numbers around 7,000.

Martín Esparza assumes for new period as SME leader

Martín Esparza Flores was sworn in yesterday for a new period as secretary general of the Mexican Electricians union, SME, La Jornada reports, faithfully adding that a "committee of observers" agree that Esparaza was elected according to the unions statutes.

The newspaper fails to neglect one little detail: The electricians were free to elect any candidate they wanted, as long as it was Esparza: His list was the only option available. For that you need to read Milenio's coverage.

When it comes to causes dear to LJ's heart, above AMLO and any and all organizations allied with him, it is, unfortunately, not possible to rely on the newspaper as one of record: Omitting is distorting.