Letras Libres, 3/1/2012
Enrique Serna, a prominent Mexican writer, published ¡Vivan las cadenas! in the February edition of Letras Libres entitled ‘Diálogo sobre la democracia‘. This article makes a critique of democracy in Mexico: it has not led to a true civic awakening but rather, to a superficial change that allowed the PRI to retain its power. After the 2000 elections, not only did President Fox and President Calderón avoid dismantling the corporatist apparatus of the PRI, Serna contends, but they also tried to use this power in their favor.
Serna recognizes, however, that despite this political illusion of change, small achievements toward democracy have been made (e.g. macroeconomic stability, abolition of state censorship of the media, accountability of the federal government, and an effective combat against delinquency in the Federal District). But he warns that were the PRI to win the presidential seat or the absolute majority in Congress, those democratic elements will be at risk; alongside the efforts of the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) toward the transparency of elections that were not present back when the PRI was in rule.
The author explains that today’s Mexican society is increasingly fearful of the growing levels of violence and power of organized crime against a President Calderón who has been unable to contain them. Hence, many Mexicans believe that a return of PRI in the presidency would bring peace back to the country, even if that meant giving PRI back the power to take for its own the riches of the nation. Serna brings in the example of Arturo Montiel, who despite all the corruption scandals of surrounding his persona, can publicly express support for his dauphin, Enrique Peña Nieto, who is running for the presidential election in 2012.
In this light, Serna believes that the highest form of treason against the Mexican citizenry committed by the PAN presidential administrations is having tolerated these political privileges outside the rule of law and not having done anything to reform the legal system from its core. As an additional critique to President Calderón, Serna explains that the main objective of the “war on drugs” should not have been to eradicate drug trafficking, but rather to prevent the formation of a State within the Mexican State. President Calderón, he claims, has either not wanted or has been unable to punish those political operators involved with drug cartels.
For Serna, it is not democracy itself that has failed. What has failed are the PAN presidential administrations that with cowardice and incompetence were unable to take advantage of the true depths of democracy. In a way, Serna declares, Mexican society is also to blame because it did not take the lead in the regeneration of the social fabric that should have begun back in 2000. Nonetheless, Serna believes that there are still honest politicians in the PAN and PRD who want to do something good for Mexico. And even if at the moment there is nothing better than these political parties, electing them over the PRI would at least prevent a restoration of power “that can only worsen the chaos,” Serna says.
To find the full article in Letras Libres, click here.
