Thursday, January 20, 2011

Finally, an IFE ruling against Peña Nieto: Used public funds for own gain

It was long in coming: A ruling by the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) in disfavor of Enrique Peña Nieto. As has been noted here at other occasions, IFE in the past year has very rarely offered any decision against the Mexico State Governor, yet now the institute accepted as legitimate a complaint by PAN that Peña Nieto, in relation with his 5th Informe or State of the State, used public funds for a systematic diffusion of TV ads promoting his personae, as Peña Nieto took the liberty of airing these "spots" not just in Mexico State, but all over the country - all at taxpayers' expense.

While this is illegal, IFE as of yet does not have any means of sanctioning Peña Nieto - the nature of the case was a first - but sent the case over to the Mexico State comptroller.

Of note: IFE councilors (three more still need to be appointed) Marco Antonio Baños and Francisco Guerrero voted against, while Alfredo Figueroa, Macarita Elizondo, Benito Nacif, and Leonardo Valdés, the IFE president, voted in favor of PAN's complaint.

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