DOCSLIB.ORG

Organized Crime and Violence in Mexico April 2019 April

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Organized Crime and Violence in Mexico April 2019 April Organized Crime and Violence in Mexico Analysis Through Through Analysis 2018 Laura Y. Calderón, Kimberly Heinle, Octavio Rodríguez Ferreira, and David A. Shirk Justice in Mexico Department of Political Science & International Relations University of San Diego April 2019 About Justice in Mexico: Started in 2001, Justice in Mexico (www.justiceinmexico.org) works to improve citizen security, strengthen the rule of law, and protect human rights in Mexico. We generate cutting edge research, promote informed dialogue, and work to find solutions to address these enormously complex issues. As a U.S.-based initiative, our program partners with key stakeholders, experts, and decision makers, lending international support to help analyze the challenges at hand, build consensus about how to resolve them, and foster policies and programs that can bring about change. Our program is presently based at the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of San Diego (USD), and involves university faculty, students, and volunteers from the United States and Mexico. From 2005-2013, the project was based at the USD Trans-Border Institute at the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and from 2001-2005 it was based at the Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies at the University of California-San Diego. About the Report: This is 10th edition of a series of reports published by Justice in Mexico examining issues related to crime and violence, judicial sector reform, and human rights in Mexico. Since 2010, the Drug Violence in Mexico report series examined patterns of crime and violence attributable to organized crime, and particularly drug trafficking organizations. In commemoration of the 10th year anniversary, the authors have changed the series’ name to “Organized Crime and Violence in Mexico” to reflect the diversification of organized crime over the last decade. This report was authored by Laura Y. Calderón, Kimberly Heinle, Octavio Rodríguez Ferreira, and David A. Shirk, and builds on the work of past Drug Violence in Mexico reports. This publication does not represent the views or opinions of the University of San Diego or Justice in Mexico’s sponsoring organizations © Copyright Justice in Mexico, April 2019. ISBN-10: 0-9988199-1-3 ISBN-13: 978-0-9988199-1-4 Justice in Mexico Department of Political Science & International Relations University of San Diego 5998 Alcalá Park San Diego, CA 92110 Organized Crime and Violence in Mexico Analysis Through 2018 Laura Y. Calderón, Kimberly Heinle, Octavio Rodríguez Ferreira, and David A. Shirk Justice in Mexico Department of Political Science & International Relations University of San Diego April 2019 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ACRONYMS.................................................................................................................................................... 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................................... 3 I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................................................... 7 II. UNDERSTANDING MEXICO’S RECENT VIOLENCE ................................................................................ 8 III. FINDINGS: ORGANIZED CRIME AND VIOLENCE IN MEXICO .....................................................11 A. Record Levels of Homicide Continue in 2018 .............................................................................................................. 11 B. Organized-Crime-Style Killings Constitute Major Share of Homicides in 2018 ............................................... 14 C. Shifting Geographic Patterns of Violence ....................................................................................................................... 17 1. Geographic Dispersion Decreases in 2018 ....................................................................................................................................... 17 2. Significant Increases in State and Local Centers of Violence....................................................................................................... 22 3. Distribution of Organized-Crime-Style Homicides ........................................................................................................................ 27 D. Special Victims: Gender, Politics, and the Press ........................................................................................................... 29 1. Males ................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 30 2. Mayors.............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 31 3. Journalists ........................................................................................................................................................................................................ 34 E. Comparing Presidential Administrations .......................................................................................................................... 38 IV. ANALYZING RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN 2018 .................................................................................39 A. The Shifting Landscape of Organized Crime .................................................................................................................. 40 B. The Trial of “El Chapo” Guzmán ........................................................................................................................................ 41 C. Changing of the Guard: A New President Takes Office ............................................................................................ 43 D. Addressing the Socio-Economic Roots of Violent Crime ......................................................................................... 45 E. Re-Inventing the Federal Prosecutor’s Office ................................................................................................................. 46 F. Debating the Military’s Role in Internal Affairs ............................................................................................................... 48 1. Internal Security Law .................................................................................................................................................................................. 49 2. The National Guard .................................................................................................................................................................................... 50 G. Changing U.S.-Mexico Security Relations ....................................................................................................................... 52 1. Border Security ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 52 2. NAFTA and the USMCA .......................................................................................................................................................................... 52 3. Mérida Initiative Cooperation ................................................................................................................................................................. 53 V. CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS & RECOMMENDATIONS ..............................................................53 A. Better Monitoring and Analysis of Mexico’s Rule of Law Challenges ................................................................... 54 B. Enhancing Mexican Policing and Prosecutions ............................................................................................................... 54 C. Special Measures to Address Political Violence ............................................................................................................ 54 D. Reinvigorating Mexico’s Anti-Corruption Efforts ........................................................................................................ 55 IV. APPENDIX: DEFINITIONS, DATA, AND METHODOLOGIES ...........................................................56 A. Defining the Problem .............................................................................................................................................................. 56 B. The Available Data Sources and Their Limitations....................................................................................................... 57 C. Government Data on Homicide ........................................................................................................................................ 58 D. Organized Crime-Style Homicides.................................................................................................................................... 59 E. Analytical and Methodological Concerns ......................................................................................................................... 61 LIST OF ACRONYMS AFO Arellano Felix Organization, an organized crime group from Tijuana AK-type Avtomat Kalashnikova, assault rifle used by organized crime groups, e.g., AK- 47 AMLO Andres Manuel
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Organized Crime and Terrorist Activity in Mexico, 1999-2002
    ORGANIZED CRIME AND TERRORIST ACTIVITY IN MEXICO, 1999-2002 A Report Prepared by the Federal Research Division, Library of Congress under an Interagency Agreement with the United States Government February 2003 Researcher: Ramón J. Miró Project Manager: Glenn E. Curtis Federal Research Division Library of Congress Washington, D.C. 20540−4840 Tel: 202−707−3900 Fax: 202−707−3920 E-Mail: [email protected] Homepage: http://loc.gov/rr/frd/ Library of Congress – Federal Research Division Criminal and Terrorist Activity in Mexico PREFACE This study is based on open source research into the scope of organized crime and terrorist activity in the Republic of Mexico during the period 1999 to 2002, and the extent of cooperation and possible overlap between criminal and terrorist activity in that country. The analyst examined those organized crime syndicates that direct their criminal activities at the United States, namely Mexican narcotics trafficking and human smuggling networks, as well as a range of smaller organizations that specialize in trans-border crime. The presence in Mexico of transnational criminal organizations, such as Russian and Asian organized crime, was also examined. In order to assess the extent of terrorist activity in Mexico, several of the country’s domestic guerrilla groups, as well as foreign terrorist organizations believed to have a presence in Mexico, are described. The report extensively cites from Spanish-language print media sources that contain coverage of criminal and terrorist organizations and their activities in Mexico.
    [Show full text]
  • L'impact De L'insécurité Urbaine Sur Les Entreprises Manufacturières D'amérique Latine: Une Étude De Cas, Puebla Au Mexique
    INRS Urbanisation, Culture et Société L'IMPACT DE L'INSÉCURITÉ URBAINE SUR LES ENTREPRISES MANUFACTURIÈRES D'AMÉRIQUE LATINE: UNE ÉTUDE DE CAS, PUEBLA AU MEXIQUE Par Pamela Echeverria L. Thèse présentée pour l'obtention du grade de Philosophiae doctor (Ph. D.) en Études urbaines (programme offert conjointement par l'INRS-Urbanisation, Culture et Société et l'UQAM) Jury d'évaluation Examinateur externe Winnie Frohn Département d'études urbaines et touristiques Université du Québec à Montréal Examinateur externe Lisa M. Bornstein École d'urbanisme Université McGill Examinateur interne Julie-Anne Boudreau Études Urbaines INRS-Urbanisation, Culture et Société Directeur de recherche Mario Polèse Études Urbaines INRS-Urbanisation, Culture et Société Thèse soutenue le 2 novembre 2009 Tous droits réservés de Pamela Echeverria, 2010 11 « The cUies Jike dreams are made of desires and fears » Halo Calvino, Le città invisibili RÉSUMÉ L'insécurité urbaine est une préoccupation quasi universelle et, pour certaines communautés locales, leur cheval de bataille. La criminalité cause des torts irréparables aux victimes. Elle nuit aussi à la capacité des villes de produire de la richesse et d'attirer de nouveaux capitaux. Certaines régions sont aux prises avec une criminalité endémique, mais aussi avec des crimes de plus en plus violents. C'est le cas de l'Amérique latine. En dépit des effets pervers de l'insécurité urbaine, peu de chercheurs se sont.intéressés à son impact sur le fonctionnement et la productivité des entreprises. Pourtant, elles sont les canaux par lesquels les villes peuvent prospérer. Les quelques études sur le sujet montrent que le coût du crime dans le secteur privé est considérable tout en étant difficile à comptabiliser.
    [Show full text]
  • War on the Mexican Drug Cartels
    THE WAR ON MEXICAN CARTELS OPTIONS FOR U.S. AND MEXICAN POLICY-MAKERS POLICY PROGRAM CHAIRS Ken Liu Chris Taylor GROUP CHAIR Jean-Philippe Gauthier AUTHORS William Dean Laura Derouin Mikhaila Fogel Elsa Kania Tyler Keefe James McCune Valentina Perez Anthony Ramicone Robin Reyes Andrew Seo Minh Trinh Alex Velez-Green Colby Wilkason RESEARCH COORDINATORS Tia Ray Kathryn Walsh September 2012 Final Report of the Institute of Politics National Security Student Policy Group THE WAR ON MEXICAN CARTELS OPTIONS FOR U.S. AND MEXICAN POLICY-MAKERS POLICY PROGRAM CHAIRS Ken Liu Chris Taylor GROUP CHAIR Jean-Philippe Gauthier AUTHORS William Dean Laura Derouin Mikhaila Fogel Elsa Kania Tyler Keefe James McCune Valentina Perez Anthony Ramicone Robin Reyes Andrew Seo Minh Trinh Alex Velez-Green Colby Wilkason RESEARCH COORDINATORS Tia Ray Kathryn Walsh September 2012 Final Report of the Institute of Politics 2 National Security Student Policy Group Institute of Politics ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF POLITICS NATIONAL SECURITY POLICY GROUP The Institute of Politics is a non-profit organization located in the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. It is a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy, and its mission is to unite and engage students, particularly undergraduates, with academics, politicians, activists, and policymakers on a non-partisan basis and to stimulate and nurture their interest in public service and leadership. The Institute strives to promote greater understanding and cooperation between the academic world and the world of politics and public affairs. Led by a Director, Senior Advisory Board, Student Advisory Committee, and staff, the Institute provides wide-ranging opportunities for both Harvard students and the general public.
    [Show full text]
  • Central America Economic Reactivation in a COVID-19 World: FINDING SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES in UNCERTAIN TIMES
    Atlantic Council ADRIENNE ARSHT LATIN AMERICA CENTER Central America Economic Reactivation in a COVID-19 World: FINDING SUSTAINABLE OPPORTUNITIES IN UNCERTAIN TIMES By: María Eugenia Brizuela de Ávila, Laura Chinchilla Miranda, María Fernanda Bozmoski, and Domingo Sadurní Contributing authors: Enrique Bolaños and Salvador Paiz The Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center broadens understanding of regional transformations through high-impact work that shapes the conversation among policymakers, the business community, and civil society. The Center focuses on Latin America’s strategic role in a global context with a priority on pressing political, economic, and social issues that will define the trajectory of the region now and in the years ahead. Select lines of programming include: Venezuela’s crisis; Mexico-US and global ties; China in Latin America; Colombia’s future; a changing Brazil; Central America’s trajectory; Caribbean development; commercial patterns shifts; energy resources; and disinformation. Jason Marczak serves as Center Director. For more information, please visit www.AtlanticCouncil.org. This report is written and published in accordance with the Atlantic Council Policy on Intellectual Independence. The authors are solely responsible for its analysis and recommendations. The Atlantic Council and its donors do not determine, nor do they necessarily endorse or advocate for, any of this report’s conclusions. © 2020 The Atlantic Council of the United States. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or
    [Show full text]
  • Exploring the Relationship Between Militarization in the United States
    Exploring the Relationship Between Militarization in the United States and Crime Syndicates in Mexico: A Look at the Legislative Impact on the Pace of Cartel Militarization by Tracy Lynn Maish A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science (Criminology and Criminal Justice) in the University of Michigan-Dearborn 2021 Master Thesis Committee: Assistant Professor Maya P. Barak, Chair Associate Professor Kevin E. Early Associate Professor Donald E. Shelton Tracy Maish [email protected] ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8834-4323 © Tracy L. Maish 2021 Acknowledgments The author would like to acknowledge the assistance of their committee and the impact that their guidance had on the process. Without the valuable feedback and enormous patience, this project would not the where it is today. Thank you to Dr. Maya Barak, Dr. Kevin Early, and Dr. Donald Shelton. Your academic mentorship will not be forgotten. ii Table of Contents 1. Acknowledgments ii 2. List of Tables iv 3. List of Figures v 4. Abstract vi 5. Chapter 1 Introduction 1 6. Chapter 2 The Militarization of Law Enforcement Within the United States 8 7. Chapter 3 Cartel Militarization 54 8. Chapter 4 The Look into a Mindset 73 9. Chapter 5 Research Findings 93 10. Chapter 6 Conclusion 108 11. References 112 iii List of Tables Table 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 80 Table 2 .........................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The Politics of Crime in Mexico: Democratic Governance in a Security Trap
    EXCERPTED FROM The Politics of Crime in Mexico: Democratic Governance in a Security Trap John Bailey Copyright © 2014 ISBN: 978-1-935049-89-0 hc FIRSTFORUMPRESS A DIVISION OF LYNNE RIENNER PUBLISHERS, INC. 1800 30th Street, Ste. 314 Boulder, CO 80301 USA telephone 303.444.6684 fax 303.444.0824 This excerpt was downloaded from the FirstForumPress website www.firstforumpress.com Contents List of Tables and Figures ix Preface xi 1 Security Traps and Mexico’s Democracy 1 2 Foundational Crime: Tax Evasion and Informality 31 3 Common Crime and Democracy: Weakening vs. Deepening 51 4 Organized Crime: Theory and Applications to Kidnapping 85 5 Drug Trafficking Organizations and Democratic Governance 115 6 State Responses to Organized Crime 143 7 Escape Routes: Policy Adaptation and Diffusion 181 List of Acronyms 203 Bibliography 207 Index 225 vii 1 Security Traps and Mexico’s Democracy “We either sort this out or we’re screwed. Really screwed.” —Javier 1 Sicilia, April 2011. “May the Mexican politicians forgive me, but the very first thing is to construct a state policy. The fight against drugs can’t be politicized.” —Former Colombian President Ernesto Samper, June 2011.2 The son of Javier Sicilia, a noted Mexican poet and journalist, was among seven young people found murdered in Cuernavaca, Morelos, in late March 2011. The scandal triggered mega-marches in 37 cities throughout Mexico to protest violence and insecurity. Like others before him, Sicilia vented his rage at the political class. “We’ve had legislators that do nothing more than collect their pay. And that’s the real complaint of the people.
    [Show full text]
  • Inventario Físico De Los Recursos Minerales Del Municipio Tequila Estado De Jalisco
    SERVICIO GEOLÓGICO MEXICANO FIDEICOMISO DE FOMENTO MINERO INVENTARIO FÍSICO DE LOS RECURSOS MINERALES DEL MUNICIPIO TEQUILA ESTADO DE JALISCO NOVIEMBRE DE 2007 1 SERVICIO GEOLÓGICO MEXICANO FIDEICOMISO DE FOMENTO MINERO INVENTARIO FÍSICO DE LOS RECURSOS MINERALES DEL MUNICIPIO TEQUILA ESTADO DE JALISCO ELABORÓ: ING. JUAN MANUEL MALDONADO LEE NOVIEMBRE 2007 2 INDICE Página I. GENERALIDADES 1 I.1 Introducción 1 I.2. Objetivo 2 II. MEDIO FÍSICO Y GEOGRÁFICO 3 II.1. Localización y extensión 3 II.2. Reseña histórica 3 II.3. Vías de comunicación y acceso 4 II.4. Fisiografía 6 II.5. Hidrografía 6 II.6. Clima 9 II.7. Vegetación y flora 10 II.8. Fauna 11 II.9. Suelo 11 III. MARCO GEOLÓGICO 12 III.1. Geología regional 12 III.2. Geología local 14 IV. YACIMIENTOS MINERALES 27 IV.1. Minerales Metálicos 27 IV.2. Minerales No Metálicos 39 IV.3. Agregados Pétreos 58 IV.4. Rocas Dimensionables 65 V. CONCLUSIONES Y RECOMENDACIONES 81 BIBLIOGRAFÍA 89 ANEXO Fichas de campo, descriptivas de las localidades estudiadas 3 FIGURAS Página Figura 1. Plano de localización del municipio Tequila, Jal. 4 Figura 2. Principales vías de comunicación del estado de Jalisco 5 Figura 3 Provincias fisiográficas de la República Mexicana 7 Figura 4. Provincias fisiográficas del estado de Jalisco 7 Figura 5. Plano hidrográfico del estado de Jalisco 8 Figura 6. Plano de climas del estado de Jalisco 9 Figura 7. Plano de vegetación del estado de Jalisco 10 Figura 8. Terrenos tectonoestratigráficos de la República Mexicana 12 TABLAS Tabla de Localidades de Minerales Metálicos 28 Tabla de Localidades de Minerales No Metálicos 40 Tabla de Localidades de Agregados Pétreos 59 Tabla de Localidades de Rocas Dimensionables 67 Tabla general de Localidades Mineras del municipio Tequila 76 PLANOS Plano 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Mexico: Freedom in the World 2021 Country Report | Freedom Hous
    FREEDOM IN THE WORLD 2021 Mexico 61 PARTLY FREE /100 Political Rights 27 /40 Civil Liberties 34 /60 LAST YEAR'S SCORE & STATUS 62 /100 Partly Free Global freedom statuses are calculated on a weighted scale. See the methodology. Overview Mexico has been an electoral democracy since 2000, and alternation in power between parties is routine at both the federal and state levels. However, the country suffers from severe rule of law deficits that limit full citizen enjoyment of political rights and civil liberties. Violence perpetrated by organized criminals, corruption among government officials, human rights abuses by both state and nonstate actors, and rampant impunity are among the most visible of Mexico’s many governance challenges. Key Developments in 2020 • With over 125,000 deaths and 1.4 million cases, people in Mexico were severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The government initially hid the virus’s true toll from the public, and the actual numbers of cases and deaths caused by the coronavirus are unknown. • In July, authorities identified the bone fragments of one of the 43 missing Guerrero students, further undermining stories about the controversial case told by the Peña Nieto administration. • Also in July, former head of the state oil company PEMEX Emilio Lozoya was implicated in several multimillion-dollar graft schemes involving other high- ranking former officials. Extradited from Spain, he testified against his former bosses and peers, including former presidents Calderón and Peña Nieto. • In December, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) named Mexico the most dangerous country in the world for members of the media.
    [Show full text]
  • “Control...Over the Entire State of Coahuila” an Analysis of Testimonies in Trials Against Zeta Members in San Antonio, Austin, and Del Rio, Texas
    “Control...Over the Entire State of Coahuila” An analysis of testimonies in trials against Zeta members in San Antonio, Austin, and Del Rio, Texas NOVEMBER 2017 This report does not represent the official position of the School of Law or the University of Texas, and the views presented here reflect only the opinions of the individual authors and of the Human Rights Clinic 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................ 3 2. INTRODUCTION .................................................................. 5 A. Project Description And Purpose ............................................... 5 B. The Trials ................................................................... 6 I. The San Antonio Trial..................................................... 6 II. The Austin Trials ......................................................... 7 III. The Del Rio Trial ......................................................... 9 C. Background Information ...................................................... 9 I. Mexico’s Security Strategy ................................................. 9 II. Coahuila, Mexico ......................................................... 10 III. Brief History of the Zeta Cartel ............................................. 11 3. FINDINGS ON THE ZETA CARTEL STRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS ......................... 13 A. Hierarchy and Organization. .................................................. 13 B. Most Important Zeta Members Based on Testimonies .............................
    [Show full text]
  • Villarreal Dissertation 04152016 Final
    UC Berkeley UC Berkeley Electronic Theses and Dissertations Title Drug Violence, Fear of Crime and the Transformation of Everyday Life in the Mexican Metropolis Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/6rc3w8pr Author Villarreal Montemayor, Ana Teresa Publication Date 2016 Peer reviewed|Thesis/dissertation eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California Drug Violence, Fear of Crime and the Transformation of Everyday Life in the Mexican Metropolis By Ana Teresa Villarreal Montemayor A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Doctor in Philosophy in Sociology in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Loic J. Wacquant, Chair Professor Laura J. Enriquez Professor Mara Loveman Professor Teresa Caldeira Professor Javier Auyero Spring 2016 Abstract Drug Violence, Fear of Crime and the Transformation of Everyday Life in the Mexican Metropolis by Ana Teresa Villarreal Montemayor Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology University of California, Berkeley Professor Loïc Wacquant, Chair This dissertation brings sharp social theory, deep history and precise ethnography to illumine the nexus of social and urban structure, human emotions, and power. I draw on Norbert Elias, Emile Durkheim, Marcel Mauss, among other social theorists and historians, to counter dominant views of fear in the social sciences as a sole destroyer of the social fabric with evidence of how and why fear both tears and tightens the social fabric, both destroys and fosters solidarity. Yet with the exception of a few spaces of hope where families of victims of forced disappearances organized to demand justice from the state, this “tightening” of the social fabric did not transcend but rather exacerbated socio-spatial divides.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Degollado, Jalisco 2007-2009
    TERCER INFORME DE GOBIERNO H. AYUNTAMIENTO DE DEGOLLADO, JALISCO 2007-2009 H. AYUNTAMIENTO DE DEGOLLADO JALISCO / per ODO 2007-2009 1 2 TERCER INFORME DE GOBIERNO 3ER. INFORME DE GOBIERNO H. AYUNTAMIENTO DE DEGOLLADO, JALISCO 2007-2009 ucho es el regocijo de este tu Gobierno Municipal, por tener nuevamente My por última vez en este periodo, la oportunidad de compartir contigo este ejercicio de rendición de cuentas a través del presente Informe de Gobierno. Hace ya poco más de tres años, mi equipo y este servidor de Ustedes, asu- mimos un compromiso. Empeñamos nuestra palabra y adoptamos como prin- cipal fuente de motivación la confianza depositada en nosotros. Hoy, tengo el enorme gusto de poder verte a los ojos y declarar misión cumplida. Podría mencionar las dificultades encontradas y superadas en el camino, pero lo valoro como un capítulo ya cerrado. Y considero mucho más justo y pro- vechoso enfocarnos en celebrar todos aquellos logros que gracias a tu apoyo pudimos alcanzar. Logros que se sumaron día tras día y que redundaron en con- quistar la meta por hacer de nuestro Municipio un lugar donde se viva mejor. Solo algunos ejemplos… Vivimos mejor, porque hoy mejoramos la cobertura de servicios médicos, llevando los mismos de manera gratuita a los lugares más apartados y a través de una mejor infraestructura. Vivimos mejor, porque hoy es ya una realidad para muchas familias la certeza legal sobre su patrimonio, mediante la obtención de sus escrituras. Vivimos mejor, porque más de 300 fa- milias que no contaban con piso firme en sus casas, más de 250 familias que no contaban con baño y más de 300 que no tenían dónde almacenar agua, hoy cuentan con mejores condiciones en sus viviendas.
    [Show full text]
  • Freedom in the World Annual Report, 2019, Mexico
    Mexico | Freedom House https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2019/mexico A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 9 / 12 A1. Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? 3 / 4 The president is elected to a six-year term and cannot be reelected. López Obrador of the left-leaning MORENA party won the July poll with a commanding 53 percent of the vote. His closest rival, Ricardo Anaya—the candidate of the National Action Party (PAN) as well as of the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) and Citizens’ Movement (MC)—took 22 percent. The large margin of victory prevented a recurrence of the controversy that accompanied the 2006 elections, when López Obrador had prompted a political crisis by refusing to accept the narrow election victory of conservative Felipe Calderón. The results of the 2018 poll also represented a stark repudiation of the outgoing administration of President Peña Nieto and the PRI; the party’s candidate, José Antonio Meade, took just 16 percent of the vote. The election campaign was marked by violence and threats against candidates for state and local offices. Accusations of illicit campaign activities remained frequent at the state level, including during the 2018 gubernatorial election in Puebla, where the victory of PAN candidate Martha Érika Alonso—the wife of incumbent governor Rafael Moreno—was only confirmed in December, following a protracted process of recounts and appeals related to accusations of ballot manipulation. (Both Alonso and Moreno died in a helicopter crash later that month.) A2. Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? 3 / 4 Senators are elected for six-year terms through a mix of direct voting and proportional representation, with at least two parties represented in each state’s delegation.
    [Show full text]