The Mexico Institute, AL DÍA: News and Analysis from the Mexico Institute, 4/3/12
Each morning, through the Mexico Portal feature, “¿Qué opinan? Firmas del día”, we will bring you an assortment of op-ed pieces from five major Mexican dailies: Reforma, El Universal, La Jornada, Excelsior and Milenio. Enjoy!
Cada día, por la entrada titulada, “¿Qué opinan? Firmas del día”, vamos a traerles un surtido de artículos de opinión de cinco periódicos populares de México: Reforma, El Universal, La Jornada, Excelsior y Milenio. ¡Que lo disfruten!
Reforma
- Templo Mayor: Five days into the electoral race, Josefina Vázquez Mota is the presidential candidate who has stumbled into more problems; The representatives of the presidential candidates will go to the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) to begin negotiations to determine how many public debates should take place. The law establishes a minimum of two debates. AMLO wanted 12 but the Federal Electoral Tribunal (Trife) denied his request. Vázquez Mota said she would be willing to have more than two debates, but Peña Nieto might not want any changes; Federal authorities are pressuring to have attorney general Alfredo Castillo and secretary of citizen security, Salvador Neme (both from Mexico state) to take a trust exam at the Centro Nacional de Control de Confianza, even when both individuals passed the same test that was applied to them at the Secretariado Ejecutivo del Sistema Nacional de Control de Confianza. The death of Miguel de la Madrid brought a stalemate of hostilities between the federal government and the opposition parties, particularly the PRI. President Calderón shortened his visit in Washington, DC to be back in Mexico City for de la Madrid’s funeral and tribute at Palacio Nacional last night.
http://www.reforma.com/editoriales/nacional/652/1302334/
- Federico Reyes Heroles, “El gobierno de…”: In today’s editorial, Reyes Heroles reflects upon the nature of the power in the presidency explaining that during the rule of the PRI, Mexicans lived through a deep-seated presidentialism that, contrary to what was hoped for with the political transition to the PAN, still endures. Except for the creation of the IFAI during the Fox administration, Reyes Heroles argues, the PAN has ruled through the same institutions created by the PRI. Particularly under President Calderón, the PAN has denied this political continuity. Reyes Heroles contends that the government does not rest upon one single individual but rather belongs to all citizens alike.
http://www.reforma.com/editoriales/nacional/652/1302337/
El Universal
- Bajo Reserva, ¿Un capo en la campaña?: If Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán were to be found and sentenced in Mexico – both the U.S. Department of Justice and the Mexican government agreed to this – there would be a lot of people who would want to ask him about the many connections that drug cartels have with Mexican politicians; During his visit in Washington, D.C., President Calderón exalted on universal health care coverage in Mexico (except for that in the Federal District) and on Obama’s efforts to attain it in the United States; It seems that Luis Videgaray, manager of Peña Nieto’s campaign, is emulating the media strategy used during Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. For example, Videgaray sent a chain email asking the cyber community to forward the message to their contacts in support of Peña Nieto, as well as inviting them to download desktop images and screen savers with images of the PRI presidential candidate.
http://www.eluniversalmas.com.mx/columnas/2012/04/95182.php
Jornada
- Clase Política, “Frente a Obama”: President Calderón told Obama Mexico cannot contain the flow of drugs while there continues to be an unrestricted entrance of weapons, and Obama offered to take steps to stop it.
http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2012/04/03/opinion/006o2po
Milenio
- Trascendió: Josefina Vázquez Mota admits that not all is going well within her campaign and affirms that her three new TV ads will present a new, more relaxed Josefina. Enrique Peña Nieto and the PRI’s leadership has appointed Manlio Fabio Beltrones as campaign coordinator for federal deputies. Former president Zedillo has apologized to the family of Miguel de la Madrid for being unable to attend a wake held at the national palace.
http://www.milenio.com/cdb/doc/impreso/9140427
- Ciro Gómez Leyva, “Una gran tarde, entre Salinas y Calderón”: President Calderon reached an agreement with the family of deceased former president Miguel de la Madrid and arranged a formal state funeral at the National Palace. While both Calderon and former president Salinas attended, Ernesto Zedillo and Vicente Fox were notable absent.
http://www.milenio.com/cdb/doc/impreso/9140419
