Sinembargo: Martín Moreno*
The imposition of a militant member of Morena [Movement for National Regeneration, founded in 2014 by now President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, aka AMLO], Rosario Piedra Ibarra, as president of the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) is an offense to the independence and autonomy from presidential control that the commission has maintained, for better or worse, for the last six years. Dona Piedra's election is a brutal blow to the increasingly fragile Mexican democracy, turning the CNDH into another office of the Presidency. We must highlight, without a doubt, the strong public opposition of some PAN [National Action Party] members, ... and journalists and part of civil society who have raised their voices against such an imposition. The democratic thing to do would be to have [had] another election and someone impartial and without party membership elected.
He also hates the INE [National Electoral Institute] - yes, the same institute that was the guarantor of his triumph in 2018 - because, in his delusions, he believes he deserves that the country owes him everything and that it ought to tolerate everything from him. However, what is behind his attempts to seize the CNDH and the INE? It is of a political-electoral nature, of course. It could not be otherwise. Let's review each one:
The CNDH: It is a priority for AMLO and his administration to take advantage of its majority in the Senate to impose a faithful president, close to the President, capable of submission to López Obrador and unable to guarantee impartiality within the Commission. And that puppet is Doña Piedra. She will lead the agency responsible for investigating and pointing out when the Executive Branch, government authorities or agencies violate the human rights of citizens.
But there is a small detail: Doña Piedra is AMLO's great friend, whom she worships to the point of delirium, whom she admires ecstatically, whom she obeys to the point of ignominy It will be precisely she who will head the autonomous agency that is supposed to keep an eye on him - or so it is said. Right-wing enemies [such as members of the PAN] will be deluged with findings by the Commission. Socialist allies won't even be touched with the petal of a rose.
With González Pérez, AMLO ran into a worthy ombudsman who always acted firmly and honestly. The commission hindered López Obrador because it did not kneel before him. Because its recommendations put the López Obrador government in a bad light, it exhibited AMLO and constantly exposed the violation of rights by the current administration. That had to be avoided so that AMLO's projects would not be weakened. [With the confirmation of] Dona Piedra to lead the CNDH ..., AMLO is getting what he wants, someone who will kneel down and bow her head. So, goodbye to the independence and autonomy of the CNDH.
The INE: Although the current Electoral Institute is made up of members chosen [by the Senate] according to party quotas, it is also true that both internal and external balances have been achieved that have avoided flagrant electoral frauds similar to those we have suffered during the last 33 years... Over the years, and under the leadership of José Woldenberg, the then IFE [Federal Electoral Institute] consolidated itself as a reliable, impartial and professional electoral body, guaranteeing the transition with the victory of Vicente Fox in the year 2000.
What does López Obrador want by decapitating the current INE, seeking to have its presidency rotated every 3 years? This will advance the departure of [the current president] Lorenzo Córdova in 2020. For a reason of interest. Being the political animal he is, AMLO knows that given the mistakes he has undeniably made and because of the inefficiency of his government...the [mid-term] vote on July 1, 2021, could well be unfavorable for him and for Morena candidates.
And since, in the economy and public security, favorable changes are not expected in the coming year, AMLO is seeking to protect himself. He intends to act for his own safety by controlling or even eliminating the INE, and have the electoral authority come under his control in the National Palace, using illegal public referendums or even raised hands in the Zócalo [central plaza in front of the Palace] to elect the people's representatives.
In 2021, that vote of punishment could give a blow to the heart of the López Obrador government, preventing it from holding a majority in the Chamber of Deputies and doing whatever it pleases in Congress, as has happened so far. AMLO does not want the current INE managing the midterm election because he knows that if there is a defeat for Morena, ...his plans will derail. This is why he wants to behead the INE and control it through a new president and advisors who, of course, would be managed by AMLO from his office. Or, he may just eliminate the INE. Then, it will be democracy at his convenience.
The coup to the CNDH has already occurred. The fangs have already been shown. The hunt against the current INE has already started in the Chamber of Deputies with its intention to shorten the presidency of the institute to three years, this coming into force in 2020 in order to brush aside Cordova.
We will see if the opposition, the critical press and civil society can stop this attempted coup--it definitely is a coup--against the highest electoral body. Because if they can't, then it remains to be seen who will stop them. Spanish original
*Martín Moreno is a journalist, writer and radio host. He is the author of the books: "By the Hand of the Father", "Paulette, What Was Not Said", "Abuse of Power in Mexico," "The Demons of Mexican Trade Unions", "The Shattered Portrait of a Failed Mexico", "July 1, 2018: Radical Change or Perfect Dictatorship", and the novel "Days of Wrath". TW @_martinmoreno FB / Martín Moreno
The imposition of a militant member of Morena [Movement for National Regeneration, founded in 2014 by now President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, aka AMLO], Rosario Piedra Ibarra, as president of the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) is an offense to the independence and autonomy from presidential control that the commission has maintained, for better or worse, for the last six years. Dona Piedra's election is a brutal blow to the increasingly fragile Mexican democracy, turning the CNDH into another office of the Presidency. We must highlight, without a doubt, the strong public opposition of some PAN [National Action Party] members, ... and journalists and part of civil society who have raised their voices against such an imposition. The democratic thing to do would be to have [had] another election and someone impartial and without party membership elected.
MV Note: This column was written before Ms. Piedra was sworn into office today. We have taken the ediorial liberty of making changes which recognize that that event has occurred. In Mexico, the core of political parties are composed of formal "militant" members who run the party. A revoting on the choice by the Senate was proposed by the opposition parties, but not carried out this week.We already know that AMLO [President Andrés Manuel López Obrador] doesn't like counterweights, that he gets mad when they question him. He hates Luis Raúl González Pérez, outgoing president of the CNDH, because he dared to send several recommendations to the socialist government for obvious violations of human rights, and this - a just democracy - is something that doesn't suit Andrés Manuel.
He also hates the INE [National Electoral Institute] - yes, the same institute that was the guarantor of his triumph in 2018 - because, in his delusions, he believes he deserves that the country owes him everything and that it ought to tolerate everything from him. However, what is behind his attempts to seize the CNDH and the INE? It is of a political-electoral nature, of course. It could not be otherwise. Let's review each one:
The CNDH: It is a priority for AMLO and his administration to take advantage of its majority in the Senate to impose a faithful president, close to the President, capable of submission to López Obrador and unable to guarantee impartiality within the Commission. And that puppet is Doña Piedra. She will lead the agency responsible for investigating and pointing out when the Executive Branch, government authorities or agencies violate the human rights of citizens.
But there is a small detail: Doña Piedra is AMLO's great friend, whom she worships to the point of delirium, whom she admires ecstatically, whom she obeys to the point of ignominy It will be precisely she who will head the autonomous agency that is supposed to keep an eye on him - or so it is said. Right-wing enemies [such as members of the PAN] will be deluged with findings by the Commission. Socialist allies won't even be touched with the petal of a rose.
With González Pérez, AMLO ran into a worthy ombudsman who always acted firmly and honestly. The commission hindered López Obrador because it did not kneel before him. Because its recommendations put the López Obrador government in a bad light, it exhibited AMLO and constantly exposed the violation of rights by the current administration. That had to be avoided so that AMLO's projects would not be weakened. [With the confirmation of] Dona Piedra to lead the CNDH ..., AMLO is getting what he wants, someone who will kneel down and bow her head. So, goodbye to the independence and autonomy of the CNDH.
The INE: Although the current Electoral Institute is made up of members chosen [by the Senate] according to party quotas, it is also true that both internal and external balances have been achieved that have avoided flagrant electoral frauds similar to those we have suffered during the last 33 years... Over the years, and under the leadership of José Woldenberg, the then IFE [Federal Electoral Institute] consolidated itself as a reliable, impartial and professional electoral body, guaranteeing the transition with the victory of Vicente Fox in the year 2000.
What does López Obrador want by decapitating the current INE, seeking to have its presidency rotated every 3 years? This will advance the departure of [the current president] Lorenzo Córdova in 2020. For a reason of interest. Being the political animal he is, AMLO knows that given the mistakes he has undeniably made and because of the inefficiency of his government...the [mid-term] vote on July 1, 2021, could well be unfavorable for him and for Morena candidates.
MV Note: The election will be for the Chamber of Deputies in Congress; all Senators are elected for six-year terms when the president is elected.With an economy with zero percent growth, galloping unemployment, violence out of control, a State that has failed to maintain public security, miserly budgets, a President with more lies than successes, a mediocre Cabinet, increasing citizen disenchantment with his government, (he is down in the polls in terms of popular support. Mitofsky Consultants [a private polling company] places him with 59 percent of approval, while Mexico Elects gives him 52 percent), and a considerable section of society having declared itself regretful for giving him its vote, a vote of punishment for bad government will increase over the next 19 months. López Obrador smells that.
And since, in the economy and public security, favorable changes are not expected in the coming year, AMLO is seeking to protect himself. He intends to act for his own safety by controlling or even eliminating the INE, and have the electoral authority come under his control in the National Palace, using illegal public referendums or even raised hands in the Zócalo [central plaza in front of the Palace] to elect the people's representatives.
In 2021, that vote of punishment could give a blow to the heart of the López Obrador government, preventing it from holding a majority in the Chamber of Deputies and doing whatever it pleases in Congress, as has happened so far. AMLO does not want the current INE managing the midterm election because he knows that if there is a defeat for Morena, ...his plans will derail. This is why he wants to behead the INE and control it through a new president and advisors who, of course, would be managed by AMLO from his office. Or, he may just eliminate the INE. Then, it will be democracy at his convenience.
The coup to the CNDH has already occurred. The fangs have already been shown. The hunt against the current INE has already started in the Chamber of Deputies with its intention to shorten the presidency of the institute to three years, this coming into force in 2020 in order to brush aside Cordova.
We will see if the opposition, the critical press and civil society can stop this attempted coup--it definitely is a coup--against the highest electoral body. Because if they can't, then it remains to be seen who will stop them. Spanish original
*Martín Moreno is a journalist, writer and radio host. He is the author of the books: "By the Hand of the Father", "Paulette, What Was Not Said", "Abuse of Power in Mexico," "The Demons of Mexican Trade Unions", "The Shattered Portrait of a Failed Mexico", "July 1, 2018: Radical Change or Perfect Dictatorship", and the novel "Days of Wrath". TW @_martinmoreno FB / Martín Moreno