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AMLO, the media, and the tiger

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Andrés Manuel López Obrador - Photo/Cuartoscuro
14/03/2018 |09:53
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AMLO, the press, and a tiger

A lot of ink has flown out of the pens of columnists and cartoon artists over the phrase Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) said last week before the bankers: “If they dare to make an electoral fraud, I'll go to Palenque and who knows who'll be left to catch the tiger. He who unleashes the tiger better be ready to catch it again.” And what said ink has said hasn't pleased the presidential candidate, who issued a heartfelt claim because the media have published many negative articles against him, which reflect an “uneven” coverage “during the inter-campaign period.” Our sources say that the presidential candidate of the left National Regeneration Party (MORENA) has complained that the media have left untouched his political rivals in recent days and that he has been hounded over the whole issue about the tiger. It seems, we've been told, that Mr. Andrés Manuel has unleashed his inner tiger and has failed to follow the advice of his “Russian advisors” to stay out of trouble and that he's begun to forget his “love and peace” mantra.

Nothing for no one at the INE

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Our sources say everything is ready for the Executive Council of the National Electoral Insitute (INE) to inform about the signature annulment request of the independent candidates Margarita Zavala, Armando Rïos Piter, and Jaime Rodríguez , requested by Pedro Ferriz de Con , claiming an alleged black market of fake ID's was used to obtain them. We're told the INE will most certainly not dismiss Mr. Pedro, that is, until yesterday night they didn't expect to consider his request inadmissible but that the Institute will still allow the independent candidates to carry on, for now, while the signatures are reviewed. That is, there's nothing for none yet.

A mezcal at the Senate

“It's too early for a mezcal,” said Senator of the center-right Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), José María Tapia , the controversial substitute of former president of the Senate, Pablo Escudero, of the Green Party (PVEM), when he was invited to partake in such a spirited beverage. The PRI member – who was caught once at a pool party in Las Vegas – abstained from being seen drinking mezcal before the media during the conference of his fellow party member Marco Olvera. Yet the boss of all PRI Senators was Emilio Gamboa, who joined Senator Aarón Irizar in a toast with the “cheers,” in order to promote this symbolic Mexican drink.

An auditor could be appointed after all

The door for the Superior Auditor of the Federation is beginning to open. We're told the center-right Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) at the Lower Chamber is seeking allies that can help them reach the necessary support. We're told that for this position the favorite is Arturo Orcí Magaña . And our sources say there is also a “clash” between the PRI and the legislators of the PAN-PRD-MC coalition to define the voting procedure for next Thursday. The law says ballots are required for this type of voting, so there can be anonymity, yet the members of the Front want the voting to be shown in a board to reveal who voted and how. Our sources say that if they go for the ballots, the PRI could have the vote of some of the members of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) angry at the current management, and that of some members of the left National Regeneration Party (MORENA). The complicated part here is that the vote in favor of two-thirds of the legislators present at the meeting is needed yet San Lázaro resembles a ghost town as of late these days.

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