The Gordillo scandal, part one: Calderón responds - and blames Fox!

The scandal has been brewing for a few days now, ever since Elba Esther Gordillo, leader of the SNTE teacher union, confirmed some days ago what most suspected, namely that a dirty PRI-style horsetrading took place in 2006 between Gordillo and PAN, where Gordillo used her personal party PANAL to back Calderón and very likely ensure his victory in a tight race, in exchange for political positions.

As a great Associated Press rundown puts it, quoting  José Antonio Crespo - the story is getting international attention - "Political analyst José Antonio Crespo said the allegations show that the old way of doing politics in Mexico hasn't changed even with ouster of the PRI."

Calderón kept silent of the issue, until now, when he claimed that no, he didn't really negotiate any thing, he merely respected an agreement made between Gordillo and outgoing president Vicente Fox.

Do you believe El Señor Presidente on this one?
Nor do I. And I can't wait to hear Fox's response to these allegations.

Elba Esther Gordillo confirms 2006 horsetrading

Elba Esther Gordillo, "leader for life" of the SNTE teachers union and de facto head of the PANAL party, was unusually frank about her political dealings in a press conference yesterday, where she confirmed that she made a pact with then-candidate Felipe Calderón for the PANAL party to vote for the PAN candidate, in exchange for getting to pick the head of the ISSSTE social security institute for state workers, the National lottery, and the executive of the National system of public security (SNSP).

Her son-in-law Fernando González Sánchez was also made subsecretary of education, though she didn't mention him.

And why Calderón? Here as well Gordillo was honest: He was the only one responding to her. To recall, she had been kicked out of the PRI, so no negotiation was possible there, and AMLO refused to even sit down with her to make a deal.

Now, the question is: Who is she negotiating with now? Has she settled for Enrique Peña Nieto, as earlier events strongly indicated, or is she still open for bids?

One step forward for gay rights: Congress approves same-sex benefits

One strike against discrimination and for humankind moving forward: The Chamber of Deputies yesterday voted overwhelmingly to approve changes to the laws governing the Mexican state institutes for social security institute (IMSS) and for social services and security for state workers (ISSTE) that guarantees rights and benefits to same-sex unions and marriages. Both institutions had previously discriminated against spouses of such unions, which were denied such services even though their partners had paid their dues. They will now have the same rights as spouses/partners of straight couples.

The law was a result of an initiative promoted by PRD national deputy Enoé Uranga, and was backed by
PRI's Rubén Moreira, president of the chamber's human rights commission. The chamber voted 232-58 in favor, with 17 abstentions, and notably quite a few key panistas voted in favor of the initatives, such as former borough chief Gabriela Cuevas. Even the socially conservative PAN is changing, and is increasingly torn between the hardcore  social conservative and ultra-catholic right, and more liberal-minded and younger cadres.

The initiative will now head to the Senate, where PAN has a much higher representation as the Senate was elected in 2006. If enough PAN Senators choose to look forward and vote with PRI and the PRD, the imitative will become law as a presidential veto is extremely unlikely.