Former deputy, senator, and most recently secretary of migrants in the Guerrero state government, Cuauhtémoc Sandoval Ramírez, passed away recently.
The Mexican left has lost a great man. He played a very constructive role in the building of his party, the PRD, as well as in shaping legislation in both chambers of congress. I also had the pleasure of interviewing him a few years back - an extremely bright man, passionate for his causes, but also with a great sense of humor - what a great combination!
Friday, February 24, 2012
The attacks on Mexico's electoral reform
I had the great pleasure of conducting an interview yesterday with Jorge Alcocer, who played a key role as an architect of Mexico's 2007-8 electoral reform. It was highly interesting and enlightening for many reasons, but perhaps in particular to a very current issue: The many attacks we have seen in the media recently on the electoral reform, coming particularly from commentators like Joaquín López-Dóriga, and many others.
Alcocer admitted the reform was far from perfect - and as one of its designers, he surely has his own reason to applaud it - but what I found interesting is how he argued so much of the attacks - not all, but many - are principally a product of the continued opposition of Mexico's media giants, represented by the national council for radio and television, CIRT, for the big economic losses they have faced after the reform was enacted.
To recall, no party is allowed to buy and air ads in electronic media; these are now all alloted by IFE, the federal electoral institute. Parties can't buy ads; CIRT members lose money.
He also noted that much of the criticism have been directed at the reform due to the behavior of IFE, which has indeed been very restrictive when it comes to regulating and at one point even seemingly banning candidate debates, and CIRT's people have used this to attack directly the reform - which did in no way ban this.
As if to prove Alcocer's point, the very same day President Vicente Fox again came out against attacking one product of the reform, the veda electoral or ban on campaigning until the election season officially begins. One would think that someone whose behavior and interference in Mexico's electoral processes was rebuked by Mexico's electoral tribunal in 2006 - it even jeopardized the elections, the tribunal declared in its ruling - would keep his mouth shut on such issues.
I made several interviews with IFE councilors a while ago and with these and Alcocer's insights I will hopefully put a paper out for an upcoming conference, though right noow, I am buried in work for my book. Posting will for the foreseable future therefore be rather light as a consequence.
Volveremos.
Alcocer admitted the reform was far from perfect - and as one of its designers, he surely has his own reason to applaud it - but what I found interesting is how he argued so much of the attacks - not all, but many - are principally a product of the continued opposition of Mexico's media giants, represented by the national council for radio and television, CIRT, for the big economic losses they have faced after the reform was enacted.
To recall, no party is allowed to buy and air ads in electronic media; these are now all alloted by IFE, the federal electoral institute. Parties can't buy ads; CIRT members lose money.
He also noted that much of the criticism have been directed at the reform due to the behavior of IFE, which has indeed been very restrictive when it comes to regulating and at one point even seemingly banning candidate debates, and CIRT's people have used this to attack directly the reform - which did in no way ban this.
As if to prove Alcocer's point, the very same day President Vicente Fox again came out against attacking one product of the reform, the veda electoral or ban on campaigning until the election season officially begins. One would think that someone whose behavior and interference in Mexico's electoral processes was rebuked by Mexico's electoral tribunal in 2006 - it even jeopardized the elections, the tribunal declared in its ruling - would keep his mouth shut on such issues.
I made several interviews with IFE councilors a while ago and with these and Alcocer's insights I will hopefully put a paper out for an upcoming conference, though right noow, I am buried in work for my book. Posting will for the foreseable future therefore be rather light as a consequence.
Volveremos.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Biodiesel in Mexico, coming your way?
In Chiapas recently, Governor Juan Sabines of the PRD-run state opened the first biodieselera, or biodiesel "gas station" for cars. The fuel will be based on jatropha and palm tree oil, it appears, but also used cooking oil from restaurants as well as from rastros porcinos - pig pens! Will it smell?
In Veracruz, moreover, the state institute for bioenergy also is promoting the production of sugar cane, sweet sorghum, catrofa, palm oil and cassava to produce ethanol and biodiesel. For a great in-depth story of what may be the beginning of a wonderful adventure, see article in El Universal.
In Veracruz, moreover, the state institute for bioenergy also is promoting the production of sugar cane, sweet sorghum, catrofa, palm oil and cassava to produce ethanol and biodiesel. For a great in-depth story of what may be the beginning of a wonderful adventure, see article in El Universal.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
PRD's national congress: Relations of strenght
PRD is holding its 14th party congress, and among its tasks is to elect 64 of the members to its national council. This is interesting as it allows for a glimpse of the relations of strength within the party:
* The social-democratic current Nueva Izquierda got 25 of the seats
* Its ally ADN, also close ideologically, got 14
* The infamous IDN current of the Bejarano-Padierna couple got only
* The list backing Marcelo Ebrard got only 3
* Foro Nuevo Sol, also a moderate current allied to Ebrard, got six
In sum: Despite all the bravado talk of taking over the party, the "radicals" of IDN remain a minority within the party. Perhaps they should consider joining instead the PT.
* The social-democratic current Nueva Izquierda got 25 of the seats
* Its ally ADN, also close ideologically, got 14
* The infamous IDN current of the Bejarano-Padierna couple got only
* The list backing Marcelo Ebrard got only 3
* Foro Nuevo Sol, also a moderate current allied to Ebrard, got six
In sum: Despite all the bravado talk of taking over the party, the "radicals" of IDN remain a minority within the party. Perhaps they should consider joining instead the PT.
Manuel Espino and Calderón-the-drunkard
Last week's Proceso had long excerpts from the book Calderón de Cuerpo Entero, a biography of the Mexican president by Julio Scherer García, who is also the founder of the magazine, and as such sets the tone for the often rather erratic tone of the stories and rather unsubstantiated information in what is nonetheless a very important investigative news magazine.
Regardless: Much attention has been given to Calderón's alleged drinking problem. But as critics of the book have pointed out: Scherer hasn't exactly come up with much.
One key source for the book (based on at least its excerpts) is Manuel Espino, formerly PAN president, of a very unappealing and venomous personality and belonging to the very far right of PAN, which even expelled him given his criticisms of the party. Espino is a very, very bitter man, and to say that he is someone with an axe to grind is merely an understatement. Yes it does, to be sure, allow for some interesting reading and gossip.
Regardless: Here Espino is again in an interview with Milenio today, reminding us again of his character in an involuntarily funny way:
Q: Do you know that the Church has paid millions for their pedarats?
A: No. I don't know. It is not a topic I have gone deep into.
Q: Do you have children, Manuel?
A: I have three children.
Q: And have you also instilled in them your own phobias and loathing?
A: No. I have taught my children human values, respecting their freedom of decision.
Q: Have you asked if they are gay?
A: No. It is not necessary,they are not
Q: Have you asked them?
A: Myself? It is not necessary: I have no doubt.
It is not to Scherer's credit that so much of the book appears to be based on the bitterness of this little man.
Regardless: Much attention has been given to Calderón's alleged drinking problem. But as critics of the book have pointed out: Scherer hasn't exactly come up with much.
One key source for the book (based on at least its excerpts) is Manuel Espino, formerly PAN president, of a very unappealing and venomous personality and belonging to the very far right of PAN, which even expelled him given his criticisms of the party. Espino is a very, very bitter man, and to say that he is someone with an axe to grind is merely an understatement. Yes it does, to be sure, allow for some interesting reading and gossip.
Regardless: Here Espino is again in an interview with Milenio today, reminding us again of his character in an involuntarily funny way:
Q: Do you know that the Church has paid millions for their pedarats?
A: No. I don't know. It is not a topic I have gone deep into.
Q: Do you have children, Manuel?
A: I have three children.
Q: And have you also instilled in them your own phobias and loathing?
A: No. I have taught my children human values, respecting their freedom of decision.
Q: Have you asked if they are gay?
A: No. It is not necessary,they are not
Q: Have you asked them?
A: Myself? It is not necessary: I have no doubt.
It is not to Scherer's credit that so much of the book appears to be based on the bitterness of this little man.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
No condom for you!
Mayor Alejandro Higuera Osuna (PAN) of Mazatlán has with amazing speed and vigor halted the handing-out of free condoms by gay organizations during upcoming carnival festivities.
The reason? Why of course, because handing out condoms "undermine morality," mind you.
To be precise: We're not talking of any government-funded condoms, but the mayor wants to ban organizations from handing out their own condoms.
Why not ban their sale altogether? I bet mayor Higuera would if he could. Nothing says "morality" like sabotaging efforts at people having safe sex.
The reason? Why of course, because handing out condoms "undermine morality," mind you.
To be precise: We're not talking of any government-funded condoms, but the mayor wants to ban organizations from handing out their own condoms.
Why not ban their sale altogether? I bet mayor Higuera would if he could. Nothing says "morality" like sabotaging efforts at people having safe sex.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Exactly where is "La Chingada"?
It caused a bit of kerfuffle a couple of days ago when AMLO was caught on tape, in what was a private, closed meeting with business sectors, stating that unless he wins in 2006, ahora sí a la chingada, loosely and mildly translated perhaps as "then I will get the hell out of here." Unwisely, he first denied to reporters he had said this, until confronted with it on tape, which only made it seem bigger than it really is.
What's the big deal? To Joaquín López-Dóriga, he was merely referring to a family estate in Palenque, Chiapas, actually called "La Chingada," believe it or not.
As Ciro Gómez Leyva noted, more important is the other line that AMLO said:
"I have more experience now than before. I have less vigor, though, because I'm tired."
In short, it truly is this time, or never. No 2018. I see nothing wrong in stating this, quite the contrary.
Who would not be tired after what AMLO has done, visiting every single municipality in the country twice or so, constantly holding meetings, for six years straight?
What's the big deal? To Joaquín López-Dóriga, he was merely referring to a family estate in Palenque, Chiapas, actually called "La Chingada," believe it or not.
As Ciro Gómez Leyva noted, more important is the other line that AMLO said:
"I have more experience now than before. I have less vigor, though, because I'm tired."
In short, it truly is this time, or never. No 2018. I see nothing wrong in stating this, quite the contrary.
Who would not be tired after what AMLO has done, visiting every single municipality in the country twice or so, constantly holding meetings, for six years straight?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)