The referee betting on a player?
Before the National Electoral Institute (INE) , citizens and news outlets are left defenseless. First, the Institute – presided by councilor Lorenzo Córdova – has rejected to adopt the precautionary measures requested by EL UNIVERSAL to remove from the air a spot under State times that was used by the then-national leader of the conservative National Action Party (PAN), Ricardo Anaya , to attack this newspaper with lies. Then, the president councilor harasses two journalists featured in said spot to force them to “declare” before the Institute's councilors to know if they authorized the use of their image for the spot. The journalists haven't appeared before the INE and the Institute is threatening to sanction them and to further delay the whole process. The INE also refused this newspaper its right of rebuttal to the messages with false information, given it is not bound by the Law to do so. The problem, according to our sources, is that it seems the INE doesn't want to upset one of the aspiring candidates running for President. Has the referee put his money on one of the players?
The Alejandro Gutiérrez case warms up
The Alejandro Gutiérrez case is far from cold. As the days go by, the torture accusations of the member of the center-right Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) against authorities of the state prison of Chihuahua have warmed up. First of all, the National Human Rights Commission has requested precautionary measures be taken to prevent violations to the human rights of Gutiérrez or to the legal proceeding. We're told Chihuahua's Governor, Javier Corral , of the conservative National Action Party (PAN), has stirred up the flames with the version that his administration has accepted the transfer of the man under arrest in exchange for Mexico's Office of the Attorney General (PGR) to stop investigating the torture accusation as it is “a matter strictly pertaining to the local jurisdiction,” pursuant to a statement released. Nevertheless, our sources say the Law to Prevent and Punish Torture establishes, quite clearly, that one of the causes which enable the Federal Office of the Public Prosecutor to investigate a torture accusation is to have the alleged victim request so – which is exactly what happened. What reason could have Mr. Javier to claim the PGR has no jurisdiction over the Gutiérrez case? What is he afraid of? These are some of the questions some Federal agencies are wondering about.
Vázquez Mota returns
After her lack of success at the urns, the former candidate to the Presidency and to Governor of the State of Mexico, Josefina Vázquez Mota , has decided to try something new: theater. We're told the book written by Ms. Josefina “My God, Make Me a Widow, I Beg of You” will now become a play under the direction of Rubén Lara. The cast thus far includes actresses Helena Rojo, Rebeca Jones, Ivonne Montero, among others. Very soon we'll be able to watch it in Mexico City, after its debut on January 19 in Pachuca, Hidalgo, to which the also former Minister of Social Development attended.
Anaya brings his campaign to San Lázaro
We're told that this Wednesday the conservative National Action Party (PAN), the left Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), and the center-left Citizen's Movement Party (MC) at the Lower Chamber will turn their plenary session – the last of the Legislature – into a true campaign, sorry, pre-campaign, rally in favor of their presidential candidate Ricardo Anaya . Our sources say that during these meetings at the Legislative Palace of San Lázaro the legislative agenda is usually defined for the upcoming Thursday, but that this time some legislators of the alliance will seek to have it interpreted as an act of unity in favor of Mr. Ricardo. The almost extinct plenary meetings at beaches and tourist resorts will be now transformed into campaign rallies.
am
