More on the internal troubles of Mexico's Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE), from a La Jornada report:
Not only is IFE, responsible for arranging Mexico's federal elections, missing three councilors yet to be appointed by congress, but finds itself completely divided 3-3 in bitter internal feud. The main protagonists are IFE president Leonardo Valdés vs. Marco Antonio Baños and Francisco Guerrero, who now fight about virtually everything, in an increasingly bitter tone. The latter two are close to PRI and operate essentially as the party's agents, yet Valdés is also facing criticism from PRD, originally positive toward his election, and PAN, for his leadership style, and decisions taken.
A very, very ominous sign for 2012 that begs repeating.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Unorthodox political recruitment
The Zacatecas branch of Mexican Workers Party (Partido del Trabajo PT) is organizing a beauty contest in order to recruit youth to the Morena movement of Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO). Yes, a beauty contest.
In order to become a Miss Morena Zacatecas, here are the requisites: "beauty of face and body," single, between 18 and 25 years old and a minimum height of 1.65 meters.
PT's party leader David Monreal (brother of Senator Ricardo Monreal), who is, as it were, under investigation from the state congress for not accounting for 6.5 million pesos in spending as mayor of Fresnillo, said,
"We hope that many zacatecanas participate. The main purpose is to change our country. We want to stop the social, economic and political deterioration."
I'd say the PT is engaging in a bit of social deterioration itself. Could the party, if it tried, appear any more sexist and shallow?
In order to become a Miss Morena Zacatecas, here are the requisites: "beauty of face and body," single, between 18 and 25 years old and a minimum height of 1.65 meters.
PT's party leader David Monreal (brother of Senator Ricardo Monreal), who is, as it were, under investigation from the state congress for not accounting for 6.5 million pesos in spending as mayor of Fresnillo, said,
"We hope that many zacatecanas participate. The main purpose is to change our country. We want to stop the social, economic and political deterioration."
I'd say the PT is engaging in a bit of social deterioration itself. Could the party, if it tried, appear any more sexist and shallow?
Gregorio Sánchez, essentially free
It was the first time one had ever been used in Mexico, and now ex-mayor of Cancún, Gregorio Sánchez can remove the electronic bracelet he's been wearing for the past couple of weeks. The case against him is still on, yet he is now free to go wherever he wants - before, he was limited to an area in Mexico City.
To boot: Sánchez had also been complaining that the incessant beeping from the bracelet, which apparently was low on batteries and possibly not even working, kept him awake at night...
Notably, Sánchez said he will not return to politics, but dedicate himself to business. Will it perhaps be in the tele-evangelical business? He has long been an evangelical pastor and has been emphasizing this identity while in prison, insisting on more than occasion that god speaks through him, appearing with his similarly white-dressed followers with a bible under his arm.
While we're still awaiting the final dropping of the case against Greg, it seems to me this is about as close to the end as we have ever been. It has been a thorough embarrassment for many, and not only the Attorney General (PGR), and many can't wait to put this whole debacle behind them.
To boot: Sánchez had also been complaining that the incessant beeping from the bracelet, which apparently was low on batteries and possibly not even working, kept him awake at night...
Notably, Sánchez said he will not return to politics, but dedicate himself to business. Will it perhaps be in the tele-evangelical business? He has long been an evangelical pastor and has been emphasizing this identity while in prison, insisting on more than occasion that god speaks through him, appearing with his similarly white-dressed followers with a bible under his arm.
While we're still awaiting the final dropping of the case against Greg, it seems to me this is about as close to the end as we have ever been. It has been a thorough embarrassment for many, and not only the Attorney General (PGR), and many can't wait to put this whole debacle behind them.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Vicente Fox calls for truce with drug gangs
The reactions to the abominable attack in Monterrey, which Calderón understandably refers to as a terrorist act - what else is one to call a targeted attack on civilians, timed to inflict as many deaths as possible? - have of course been condemned by the national and international community, though former president Vicente Fox used the occasion to call for a "truce" with the drug gangs.
Long a proponent of legalization of drugs (though notably not while he was president), as far as I can see this is the first time Fox has made such a declaration, which certainly goes against the grain of other official declarations.
Alejandro Poiré of Mexico´s National Security Council immediately rejected the suggestion of a truce.
Long a proponent of legalization of drugs (though notably not while he was president), as far as I can see this is the first time Fox has made such a declaration, which certainly goes against the grain of other official declarations.
Alejandro Poiré of Mexico´s National Security Council immediately rejected the suggestion of a truce.
TEPJF orders the PRD to renew its national organs
Following a complaint by Carlos Sotelo, elected as PRD senator in 2006, the Electoral Tribunal (TEPJF) ordered the PRD to renew its organs - national congress, national council, and state councils - by Dec. 15.
The PRD sought to postpone the renovation of its national organs in particular, and this might also lead to the cancellation of all its recent decisions in its national congress and council, which would be a great setback to the party. Sotelo, however, is gloating - he opposes the party´s recent decisions such as to hold a national poll to decide the party's 2012 presidential candidate. A further consequence may also be to make invalid and cancel the party's internal election for party president, and leave the party without a national leadership - this, ahead of the crucial gubernatorial election in Michoacán in November.
With such members sabotaging their own party - who needs external enemies?
The PRD sought to postpone the renovation of its national organs in particular, and this might also lead to the cancellation of all its recent decisions in its national congress and council, which would be a great setback to the party. Sotelo, however, is gloating - he opposes the party´s recent decisions such as to hold a national poll to decide the party's 2012 presidential candidate. A further consequence may also be to make invalid and cancel the party's internal election for party president, and leave the party without a national leadership - this, ahead of the crucial gubernatorial election in Michoacán in November.
With such members sabotaging their own party - who needs external enemies?
Coahuila debt scam to be invesitigated by Mexico's attorney general
PAN is not letting go of the debt and apparent document falsification scandal in Coahuila: PAN's presidential hopeful Ernesto Cordero said yesterday that the Mexican Attorney General's office (Procuraduría General de la República, PGR), will launch investigation as well, in addition to other auditing organs, as his finance ministry has sent or will lodge a formal criminal complaint.
Meanwhile, the Confederacion Nacional Campesina (CNC), a PRI corporatist organization, gave its full backing to Moreira
Meanwhile, the Confederacion Nacional Campesina (CNC), a PRI corporatist organization, gave its full backing to Moreira
Electoral Tribunal accepts expulsion of Manuel Espino
Mexico's electoral tribunal, TEPJF, voted 4-2 to confirm PAN's expulsion of Manuel Espino from the party. As far as I can see, this is in practice puts an end to this drawn-out process, where Espino - still popular among the most conservative sectors in the party, where he has a certain mass following - has fought tooth and nail against PAN's decision to kick him out of the party for disloyalty to its candidates in the 2010 elections.
Espino has also long expressed his interest in a presidential candidacy, and has his own "movement," Volver a Empezar.
Espino has also long expressed his interest in a presidential candidacy, and has his own "movement," Volver a Empezar.
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