A black Sunday for the PRI

A black Sunday for the PRI

This Sunday there shall finally be no doubts regarding the list of plurinominal candidates of the center-right Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) to the Congress. In recent weeks many lists came out with the alleged names of the lucky few yet none of them was the "good one." The PRI even had to come out and debunk the rumors spreading like wildfire. Yet our sources claim that someone who most certainly isn't in the list is the Minister of Communications and Transports, Gerardo Ruiz Esparza yet he continues fighting to see those of his inner circle securing a spot. Yet for whom is he fighting for? Anyway, another who might define his immediate future this Sunday is the national leader of the party, Enrique Ochoa , who could end up in the Lower Chamber and the one who many a PRI member want to see out of the party. Some others believe José Calzada – who just this Friday resigned to the President's Cabinet – will be the next member of the Congress. Yet it will all be known this Sunday. Stop biting your nails.

The many prospects of Manuel Espino

The movement Ruta5, led by the former national leader of the conservative National Action Party (PAN), Manuel Espino, met this Sáturday with the presidential candidate of the coalition For Mexico To the Front, Ricardo Anaya . Our sources say this organization has already met with candidates Margarita Zavala (independent) and José Antonio Meade (PRI). Moreover, next week he has a date scheduled with Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO). Just this past February 1st, Espino told EL UNIVERSAL that López Obrador “is no longer a threat to Mexico,” but, from what we can see, he hasn't confirmed their alliance. We're told that next April 14, Ruta5 will have a National Meeting and there they will decide which of their many prospects they will support for this July. Meanwhile, Ruta5 keeps flirting with them all.

Another blue rebellion

In this column, we have discussed the rebellion brewing in the heart of the group of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) at the Lower Chamber. We're told that many legislators are upset about the treatment they've received from the national leadership of Damián Zepeda and the few opportunities they have been given. Last December we told you the names of the deputies who decided to resign to the PAN, like Joaquín Díaz , who left to run for Governor of Yucatán with the left National Regeneration Party (MORENA). That week the PAN also lost Ricardo Sheffield , who is running for Governor of Guanajuato also for the MORENA party. And now they are losing Ernesto Ibarra , who will run for Mayor of Los Cabos under the coalition of the far-left Labor Party (PT) and the conservative Social Encounter Party (PES). Moreover, our sources claim that those also giving some serious thought to this business of changing sides are Elías Iñíguez, of Jalisco, and Cristina Jiménez, in Chihuahua. Someone hurry and close the door!

Fuel thieves at the new airport?

The president of the Special Commission to follow-up on the construction of the New Airport of Mexico City , the member of the left Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) Rafael Hernández filed a complaint before Mexico's Office of the Attorney General (PGR) since he detected that the vehicles used to transport a porous volcanic – rock known in Mexico as tezontle - for the project were being supplied with stolen fuel. Our sources say that, upon visiting the community of Tetlacalco at the request of the inhabitants, the legislator and his team noticed a warehouse and containers where allegedly stolen fuel was being stored, and which is used to supply fuel to the vehicles carrying material from the hills of Texcoco to the project. Hernández described that the surveillance members at the warehouse carried high-caliber guns, issued only for the use exclusive use of the Executive Branch, and that they were threatened by them. Mr. Rafael is demanding an investigation be launched, claiming the government itself, either due to their inaction or actions, is enabling fuel theft and the bankruptcy of state-owned oil company Pemex, causing negative impacts on public finances, taxpayers, and the consumers.

am