Milenio's recent interview with Senator René Arce is well worth a read: It is hard to find a more complete expression of the extreme opportunism and cynicism pervading much of Mexico´s political elite. To recall, Arce was once a guerrilla fighter, then a PRD member, and has now, with his brother, thrown his lot with the PRI in Mexico State, and, as he outlines, possibly in Mexico City and for the presidency as well.
Asked if he want to return to power in his old fiefdom Iztapalapa, where he and his brother have taken turns on power much thanks to their use of clientelistic networks, he replies, in a call for offers, "I don't want a borough; I want an embassy."
Monday, June 13, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
A new low: Bishop of Mexicali backs his "friend" Jorge Hank Rhon
It almost defies belief (no pun intended):
The Bishop of Mexicali, José Isidro Guerrero Macías, in a letter to the highly unchrist-like character Jorge Hank Rhon (who has 19 children and refers to women as "animals,") expressed his support for what he calls his "friend," and the "lamentable situation that you and your family is living through."
And, to be sure, he let Hank knows he is praying for him.
What an extraordinary job the Mexican high clergy does to undermine what little remains of its credibility.
The Bishop of Mexicali, José Isidro Guerrero Macías, in a letter to the highly unchrist-like character Jorge Hank Rhon (who has 19 children and refers to women as "animals,") expressed his support for what he calls his "friend," and the "lamentable situation that you and your family is living through."
And, to be sure, he let Hank knows he is praying for him.
What an extraordinary job the Mexican high clergy does to undermine what little remains of its credibility.
Largest PRD faction favors Marcelo Ebrard´s as 2012 choice
Not exactly a shocker: Nueva Izquierda, (NI), the largest faction in the PRD and the one currently holding the party presidency, in its national conference this weekend, expressed a "predefinition" toward making Marcelo Ebrard PRD´s presidential candidate for 2012. According to the founder of NI, Jesús Ortega, in a clear allusion to AMLO:
I am strongly disinclined to believe they will.
I do believe in a libertarian left, attached to legality, inclusive, not exclusive. I believe in a left that represents the entire country, not just a part of it, and in a tolerant left, not intolerance and authoritarianism... Marcelo´s politics of widening the the rights of the citizens of Mexico City are symptomatic of the vision of modern left"NI still reiterated it will respect the party´s final decision with regards to the final choice of Ebrard or AMLO as PRD´s candidate. One can only hope AMLO´s backers within the PRD as well as its on-off allies of the PT and Convergencia, should Ebrard win the party vote, will do the same.
I am strongly disinclined to believe they will.
Fausto Vallejo Figueroa PRI's candidate for Michoacán governor
Hardly a surprise: Fausto Vallejo Figueroa, three-time mayor of capital Morelia, on Friday became PRI's "unity candidate" for the governorship of Michoacàn, after the other pre-candidates declined in his favor.
Morelia has long been a PRI stronghold in the PRD-led state; Vallejo won the mayorship with almost 47% of the votes in 2007.
Morelia has long been a PRI stronghold in the PRD-led state; Vallejo won the mayorship with almost 47% of the votes in 2007.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Forty years since halconazo, The Corpus Christi Massacre
June 10, 1971: Paramilitary thugs created and financed by the PRI and known as Los Halcones massacred more than 100 students of youth, demonstrating again the true face of the PRI dictatorship. Many young would even take up arms against a regime that, when pushed, would not hesitate to squash dissent.
La Jornada reminds us that of the accused murderers and masterminds, only former president Luis Echeverría Álvarez remains alive.
Some particularly recommended background reading: The National Security Archive´s electronic briefing book "The Corpus Christi Massacre," which include declassified documents on the U.S. role in the cover-up.
La Jornada reminds us that of the accused murderers and masterminds, only former president Luis Echeverría Álvarez remains alive.
Some particularly recommended background reading: The National Security Archive´s electronic briefing book "The Corpus Christi Massacre," which include declassified documents on the U.S. role in the cover-up.
Is Elba Esther Gordillo actually serious about aviadores?
Seeming leader-for-life of the Mexican teachers union SNTE, Elba Esther Gordillo, spoke out against so-called aviadores, or those registered and covering pay as teachers yet never setting their foot in a classroom. She even called on state governments to act against them as it "discredits" the SNTE.
Given that the notorious practice of aviadores has been a long-running trait of the SNTE, it is a bit hard to take Gordillo fully at her word her. Indeed, aviadores have been actively been used by SNTE in marches and demonstrations, as organizational personnel, as part of the PANAL party created by SNTE, and other non-teaching tasks that have nonetheless benefited Gordillo and SNTE.
One can only hope that Gordillo has indeed realized herself how much the practice does discredit SNTE and teachers in general in the eyes of the Mexican population, beyond the practical - and monetary - benefits they may offer. But I wouldn´t hold my breath.
Given that the notorious practice of aviadores has been a long-running trait of the SNTE, it is a bit hard to take Gordillo fully at her word her. Indeed, aviadores have been actively been used by SNTE in marches and demonstrations, as organizational personnel, as part of the PANAL party created by SNTE, and other non-teaching tasks that have nonetheless benefited Gordillo and SNTE.
One can only hope that Gordillo has indeed realized herself how much the practice does discredit SNTE and teachers in general in the eyes of the Mexican population, beyond the practical - and monetary - benefits they may offer. But I wouldn´t hold my breath.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Pablo Salazar, a Mexican Mandela?
With virtually no one leaping to his defense, former governor (2000-2006) Pablo Salazar Mendiguchí declared he would launch a hunger strike, and leave prison either dead or freed of charges, in response to his arrest on corruption and embezzlement charges.
Not only that: His choice of reading material in prison, according to his attorney, was Nelson Mandela's autobiography.
Now that's a bit rich, señor gobernador.
Worth reading is also Carlos Loret de Mola´s column, which suggests that Los Pinos was well informed of the alleged "danger" of Salazar to current Governor Juan Sabines, in a letter attributed to Sabines himself, who, to recall, was Salazar´s one-time protégé.
Not only that: His choice of reading material in prison, according to his attorney, was Nelson Mandela's autobiography.
Now that's a bit rich, señor gobernador.
Worth reading is also Carlos Loret de Mola´s column, which suggests that Los Pinos was well informed of the alleged "danger" of Salazar to current Governor Juan Sabines, in a letter attributed to Sabines himself, who, to recall, was Salazar´s one-time protégé.
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