The new Mexican federal Pact
ANTONIO NAVALÓN 21-OCT-2013
One of the worst phenomena of the so called 7Mexican alternation or democratic success, in 2000, was the wavering, hesitant and tilting role acquired by the Governors of each one of the states of the country.
Throughout the seventy years that the PRI ruled -either way-, it was impossible to choose a successor that was not approved by the President in charge, who at the same time had to reach consensus with the various forces of the country, specially after the third year in office.
Then came the PAN, with Vicente Fox as the winning candidate and everything was a party. Short and with a bitter ending, but a party. It was at that time when Governors discovered they had been orphaned, no one ruled over them and, moreover, Francisco Gil and Vicente Fox had decided that one way to ensure the political peace of alternation was to give nothing to the PRI and everything to the governors.
That was how state Governors began having dreams of grandeur and vices of the rich. For example, some politicians considered that, with planes and models, any of them could be Governor. For example, some Governors thought that any of them could be president, and, well, history proved it. At least one archieved it:
Enrique Peña Nieto, former Governor of the Estado de Mexico. To all heads of states, there was an open bar, free checkbook and the idea of looking at PRI past crimes, but of course, those limited to the Presidency and Mexico City’s. That is, the metropolitan area of the Estado de Mexico up to the border with the United States, no way. And so to the south, from Hidalgo and Puebla to the border with Guatemala, better not to look.
However, after the important role that the Governors got in the formation of the Mexican political present, now they have become despicable material. It seems to me very dangerous that national craze that has been installed: “shoot a governor, is free”. Because, while I agree with much of what has been done by the geniuses of the Treasury, who by the way had never had previous political activity nor administrative work in any of the states, and perhaps that’s why they are applying this cold and brutal law that I find so dangerous. Regardless of whether the Governor is from Chiapas or Coahuila, he is forced to get down on his knees before the Undersecretary of Expenditures to ask: “How am I going to cover the payroll?”.
It is very dangerous to devalue, to that point, the iconic figure of a Governor. Very dangerous. Why do I say this? Very simple, because if it is true what is said at the National Palace about the Federal Government giving 100 pesos to the governors, from which 20 are for entities and 80 for their personal pockets, then what must be done is cut off the hand and pocket who violates the law. Why does the government do not react like this? Could it be that everyone is acting the same way? Are they sharing equally in the robbery?
And to the others, I advise not to destroy the public credibility of the figure of the governors. I say this because, first, we wont prevent another governor that might become president and, secondly, because disappearing or discrediting that level of government, in a country where this imperfect Pact is so important – but a federal pact after all – and the governors’ figure is so central – the equivalent to the Pope to God on Earth. If it becomes easy to despise, attack or diminished them; then I ask the federal government: Who will rule? Who?
Antonio Navalón 