The PRI peril in Mexico--Its presidential candidate, Enrique Peña Nieto, represents the old Mexico of corrupt power and privilege.

[DD]

The following OP-ED in the LA Times pretty much reflects my views on the upcoming election and what it means for Mexico's future.



MEXICO CITY — The Mexican version of the old Soviet Politburo is poised to make a comeback, with potentially disastrous consequences for North America. In 2000, the world hailed the end of more than 70 years of rule by the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, as a sign of democratic transition. Today, the PRI's presidential candidate in the July 1 election, Enrique Peña Nieto, threatens to bring back the authoritarian ways of the past.

The PRI has not cleaned up its act or modernized over the last 12 years. To the contrary, it has deepened its networks of corruption and illegality in the territories it still controls. The 10 states where the PRI has never lost power are among the most violent, underdeveloped and corrupt in the country. In these states, democratic transition and accountability are exotic concepts and the local governors rule like despotic feudal lords.

For example, the state of Veracruz is one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists. Recently, four journalists were assassinated in a single week. In January, officials close to the governor were detained in an airport with a suitcase containing nearly $2 million in cash, supposedly for an advertising campaign.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration is investigating alleged complicity between three former governors of Tamaulipas and some of the most violent drug cartels in Mexico. The former governor of Coahuila, Humberto Moreira, has been embroiled in an enormous corruption scandal that left his state $3 billion in debt, allegedly involving falsified government documents and complex front corporations in Texas.

The state of Mexico, where Peña Nieto just finished a six-year stint as governor, is no exception. Homicide and poverty rates have skyrocketed and "femicides" — targeted killing of women — are common. A recent study by scholar Guadalupe Hernandez found that millions in government "social spending" went unaccounted for while Peña Nieto was governor, most likely to illegally fund his presidential campaign. Independent civil society groups rank the state at the bottom in competitiveness and tops in corruption.

Peña Nieto is a wolf in sheep's clothing. He hides behind a telegenic smile and sharp attire, but he represents Mexico's old corrupt political class. Last week, for example, a high-ranking general apparently close to Peña Nieto and his group of politicians from Mexico state was arrested on organized-crime charges.

During his governorship, Peña Nieto allegedly spent tens of millions in public funds to illegally boost his image on national television. But he has few ideas of his own and questionable moral character. He fathered a son in an extramarital affair and has come under fire from the boy's mother for being an irresponsible parent.

When Peña Nieto was asked at a book fair to name three books he had read, he could only mention that he had gone over "parts" of the Bible. The late Carlos Fuentes, who died May 15, said that Peña Nieto's "ignorance" cast serious doubts on his ability to be a good president. No intellectual or independent journalist is willing to publicly endorse Peña Nieto's candidacy.

Peña Nieto would not stand a chance under typical democratic conditions in which candidates are forced to engage with citizens and frequently debate their adversaries. But in Mexico the powers that be have been working hard to protect him. For instance, not a single television station or major university has sponsored a debate between the candidates.

Those who support Peña Nieto behind the scenes do so not because they think he would be a good president but because the return of the PRI is seen to be their best insurance policy. "Who's going to move the people with the money?… Peña Nieto is," boasted a prominent Mexican businessman close to the PRI.

But Mexico doesn't need more privileges for the rich and powerful. It needs greater opportunities for the common people, who have seen their wages stagnate over the last three decades. Mexico is one of the most unequal societies on the planet. It is home to both the wealthiest man in the world, Carlos Slim, and the most powerful narco-trafficker in the hemisphere, Joaquin Guzman. Only 10 families control 10% of Mexico's gross domestic product. Meanwhile, more than 50 million people languish under the poverty line.

If the next president does not attack inequality and stimulate economic growth, the violence and discontent will only deepen. This could lead to expanding social protest and political instability as well as significant new outflows of migration to the United States.

There is some evidence that Mexicans may be opening their eyes. Peña Nieto has fallen from first to third place among college-educated voters. His support in northern Mexico, normally a PRI stronghold, and among independents is also in free fall. Earlier this month, students booed and literally ran Peña Nieto off campus after his speech at one of Mexico City's elite private schools. This weekend, tens of thousands of students took to the streets to protest against a possible return of the PRI on July 1. "It would be like a horror movie," said one of the marchers.

The upcoming elections, which include the Senate and the federal Chamber of Deputies and six governorships, are very much up in the air. There is still an opportunity for Mexico to move forward instead of backward in its struggle to consolidate democracy, institutionalize accountability and expand economic opportunity.

John M. Ackerman is a professor at the Institute for Legal Research of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, editor in chief of the Mexican Law Review and a columnist for Proceso magazine and La Jornada newspaper. Reach him at http://www.johnackerman.blogspot.com.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-ackerman-mexico-pri-democracy-20120522,0,5963574.story

DD

[ElEscocés]

Maybe it's better to go back to the way it was. Less bloodshed, or at least less innocent bloodshed.
Who knows.

Years of unimaginable brutality would make me think Peña Nieto is the better option.

I'm not in Mexico but I've tried to follow this election. What are the reasons the people of Mexico are rooting for PRI and not PAN?  Do they think the PRI will do better or have they said enough is enough?

Again, I don't know what I'd choose, I'm not in that situation. Id like to think I'd go PAN because PRI seems a giant step backwards.

Buena suerte México.

[Baggy]

Its time for people in mexico to open their eyes and make sure they get out there and vote in the next election cause if the people dont the government will just put their name on a ballot and cast it for them without them ever knowing..............
Like all the dead people who somehow managed to vote for george bush when he got elected. and i dont mean they died AFTER they voted. think it was in florida that story came out

Political
Ratz
Incorporated

Politics
And
Narcotics

what other political parties apart from them two?or is that it?

[drattler]

For all who have followed the attempted reforms in Mexico"Drug War", The writing is on the wall, PRI is obvious choice of Narcos and as with everything in Mexico, Narcos control the smoky back rooms and manipulate their will into existance. Sad, Question is will the reforms be scrapped? Will Mexico ever have Law Enforcement?, a true criminal justice system, Jails,punishment, Commerce W/O bribes,lower extortion,kidnapping, ALL good Questions.  For the typical poor Mexican PRI will be a disaster, The PRI will have to steal there share of public Money, WTF I will not live long enough to see Mexico become a decent place.

[ElEscocés]

I'm thinking maybe the Mexican people WANT a narco state.

Let's be honest, the whole narco lifestyle is glamorized. The cartels don't go wanting for new recruits.

A vote for the PRI means less deaths. And more narco money spread around. It's a vote that will allow Pablo Escobar wannabes the chance to fulfill their dreams without worrying about the law.

Why would you vote against them?

[†.©ĤİVǾ.†]

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[DD]

@chivo, I posted that picture on a response to a post by Havana, but it is good that you posted it here too.  we need all the exposure of those corrupt SOBs that we can get.  I asked the question there, "Do you think Nieto Pena just wanted to hold hands with Yarrington, or was he reaching for some of the cash Yarrington allegedly received and Yarrington grabbed his hand?"
DD

[Siskiyou_Kid]

You can say what you will about the PRI, but the PAN has been in power for 12 long years, and what have they accomplished? Thousands of innocent people have disappeared or been murdered. Employment opportunities have not improved one bit, while robber barons like Carlos Slim continue to steal and pillage with impunity.

I can't see how any administration could be worse than Felipe Caleron. The simpering whiner has unleashed the army on his own people, while doing nothing to quell the violent crime that grips many municipalities. He's like a spoiled brat playing with a toy army.

We will soon see, but I predict that with the PRI back in power, violence will be reduced, opportunities for the poor will improve, and  we will again see some sense of normalcy.

[theboss]

Say what you want about Calderon, but at least he's got some morals. Look at this corrupt clown that you're about to elect, Mexico.

[sommmeguy]

GOOOOD COKE IS TO PRICY NOWADAYS

[DD]

Kid, we have to disagree here.  You said;
PAN has been in power for 12 long years, and what have they accomplished?

I have lived here for more than 15 years.  Much has changed for the better.
Yes there are still major problems, but I have seen the streets being paved, hundreds of housing built and financed through the govt.. , most of the schools air-conditioned (some with swamp coolers, some with refrig. air).  Wages and job opportunities have improved.  

Now those may not seem like a lot, but if you lived on a street that was rutted, potholed, muddy to the point of impassibility when it rained, and that hadn't seen even a grader for years, paving your street is a big deal.

Housing for the emerging middle class is now a fact.  Now middle class and the housing for them is not the same as in the US, but it is a big step for them.

Is it  surprising that kids don't learn a lot with the temperature is 107 and all they had was a fan.  The school year runs until the middle of July.

As for wages, about 12 years ago when my brother-in-law who had worked for the same man for nearly 15 years (since he was about 14 or 15) was fired from his $150 peso a week job, I hired him at $300 pesos a week to wash trucks and trailers for the company  I worked for.  He is still there and doing basically the same thing, except with several people working under him.  He now makes about $2000 pesos a week (and has bought one of these houses for the emerging middle class.

Those are just the observations of one person living here, but the statistics bear out that life in Mx. has improved over the last 12 years.

As to the violence, we will continue to differ as to the causes.  The violence unquestioningly has increased to horrific levels since he unleashed the Army.  But the Army didn't kill the majority of the innocents that have been killed.  The majority of the people (I think the last poll I saw on that was 52%) support his deployment of the Army  I think to his credit, he had the balls to take on the cartels and try to keep Mexico from becoming a narco state.  The people, even though they approve of the use of the army and marines are tired of the violence, so they will probably vote against his party.  

As to your prediction,
"I predict that with the PRI back in power, violence will be reduced, opportunities for the poor will improve, and  we will again see some sense of normalcy.

I agree that with PRI back in power violence will be reduced.  But only because PRI will make a "pact" , a deal with the cartels.  As part of that deal, do you really think the cartels will not gain more and more control over the govt.  With a govt. in power that is not there to serve the people, except maybe to sell them drugs, how will opportunities for the poor improve except by them joining in and selling drugs etc.  If that is what you mean by seeing a sense of normalcy, I don't want any part of it.

DD

[elreydelostrolls]

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[Baggy]

Harsh comment elrey.
What i think it comes down to (And it aint really my place to say but me being the bigmouth opinionated cnt i will) Can you undo 70+ years of corruption and croneyism in 12years?
Does anyone really think you can COMPLETELY change a country for the better in such a short period?
12 years may seem like alot.. but when most of us have the chance to live to 80+ years old then 12 aint shit.

[Chivis]

I will never support the notion that Mexicans should throw their hands up and allow criminals to go about business freely with impunity.  besides being totally cowardly, it is giving the future of the children I work with to narcos.  ENOUGH!

Mexico finds itself in this position BECAUSE they looked the other way.  I have told you DD, but I don't think I have written it, that Calderons actions did not provoke the violence.  I would hope Mexicans would be smart enough to conclude that the violence would have exploded anyway.

Why?

Because of its very success.  Big money brings many others wanting a piece of the pie.  New cartels and allied gangs, and separate gangs, all came after the money.  It is my strong belief that because of his actions against narcos he prevented even greater violence.  Proof is the overwhelming majority of deaths being narco on narco.  Not narco vs army.

my dos

[Siskiyou_Kid]

DD, I'm very appreciative of your personal experience in this story. I also believe that today's violence is rooted in 80 years of PRI corruption.

But, in reality corruption can be preferable to the violence that instability brings. I recognize that this is a cynical attitude, but this is simply an example of how the world is today. Of course, Mexico has a homicide rate that is below many Latin American countries, including Brazil, Ecuador, and especially Honduras and Venezuela, so the situation could be worse.

Again, I sympathize with your understandable frustration at the impending selection of Peña Nieto, but I don't believe events would be significantly different if another candidate were elected president. (Now that AMLO has surpassed Josefina in surveys of likely voters, it's not really possible to consider her the likely alternative to the PRI)

[AJ]

Very good point Buela. I use to think that the war was Calderon's fault but my opinion has changed since then. Calderon's mistake was starting the war too quickly without a good master plan and then using the media just days after his inauguration, to declare a full on war on the cartels. His affiliation and trust with the Bush administration was premature. Once he was left on his own, he had to take full blame for a war that was already heating up because of El Chapo's greed and plan to rule the entire drug trade.

It's the PRI that should be held accountable for giving a free pass to the cartels. This war had already started under Fox's term and Fox did nothing but turn a blind eye. At least Calderon had the balls to do the unthinkable of taking on a powerful drug industry.

If the Mexican citizens are smart, they need to continue supporting this war on the cartels. If Mexico can win this war on their own. It would be a glorious day. Even though it will never completely destroy the cartels, it would still be a huge victory for the Mexican people.

But voting in Pena Nieto is only surrendering to the cartels. I am against the PRI.