Dateline Mexico by Isaias Amezcua

Click here for Full Issue of EIR Volume 16, Number 32, August 11, 1989

Discontent with Salinas grows of the President. Not even the bombast surrounding Mexico's debt renegotiation One possible replacement for Co losio under discussion is Carlos Hank can fill the country's vacuum ofpower. Gonzalez, the Tourism Secretary, a representative of the PRI "old guard" and considered aloof from the Presi dent. Also mentioned is Guillermo Ji menez Morales, leader of the Cham T he renegotiation of Mexico's for the "historic" importance of the debt ber of Deputies and considered an ally eign debt announced July 23 and cele agreement, whose achievement was of Salinas, but also a representative of brated ad nauseam by the Salinas de due entirely to his government and the dirtiest elements of the so-called Gortari government, has not achieved none other. Criticisms of the Presi PRl "dinosaurs." One strike against the "stabilizing" effect hoped for by dent's Hollywood-style extravagan Jimenez Morales is the fact that the the Salinas forces. Their idea was to za-something Salinas had pledged building of the Chamber of Deputies use the news of the renegotiation as an he would never permit under his burned down last May after three unquestionable triumph that would administration-were not long in bombs exploded there. The govern tighten their grip on power. The fes coming. ment has tried to cover up the incident tivities have been unable to hide what The reason for the vacuum of by claiming that the firewas "uninten is an open secret in Mexico: that there power in Mexico is that Salinas has tional," but Jimenez Morales is seen is an enormous vacuum of power and shattered the "national consensus" as being responsible for the lack of political disorientation among ruling among the various groups that hold security which facilitated the incident. circles in government and within the political power in the country. The last Added to all this is the fact that PRlparty. straw was the shameless concession of Salinas is now burdened with the With his over-hasty announce the Baja California governorship to scandal caused by the arrest of Jose ment of the debt renegotiation, Presi Ernesto RuffoAppel, candidate of the Antonio Zorrilla Perez, the former dent Salina::; had hoped to rescue his National Action Party (PAN) in the head of federal security under the pre deteriorating image and thrust himself elections of July 2. Salinas's action vious Miguel de la Madrid govern into the limelight as a national savior. was considered a "personal decision" ment. Zorrilla was arrested last June Poorly advised by his backers, Salinas and a "good-faith gesture" to the strat under the charges of having master went on national television on the eve egists of the U.S. State Department, minded the assassination of a well ning of July 23 to present the debt who have long wanted to see a bipar known journalist and also for having renegotiation deal as Mexico's salva tisan PRIJPAN system of government protected the country's leading drug tion and as a guarantee that economic in Mexico, to the exclusion of any oth czars. The revelations of the Zorrilla growth and improvement of living er political party. case have already implicated his for .standards would resume. Salinas asked Various sources report that what mer bosses Manuel Bartlett and Mig his television audience to stand and occurred in Baja California has left uel de la Madrid. Bartlett today is Sal sing the national anthem. Many view many PRI members disoriented. No inas's Education Secretary; the longer ers were so disgusted by his transpar longer can anyone be sure whether he he stays in that post, the more discredit ent demagogy that they turned off their will be sacrificed tomorrow on the al he brings to the Salinas government. TV sets. Salinas's grandstanding even tar of "good Mexico-U.S. relations." The Salinas government is known came under criticism in government As a self-defense measure, PRllead as a mere extension of its predecessor, circles. ers in the states are refusing to take for which reason it is widely believed The presidential press office be part in activities organized by the par that no real investigation of the Zorril gan a feverish propaganda campaign ty's national leadership. They want la case will be conducted while Sali to sell the debt package, distributing nothing to do with anything coming nas is in office. According to various "suggestions" to the media not to pub from Mexico City. Rumors are widely sources, Salinas will try to solve his lish adverse commentaries on the circulating that, as a result, PRI pres problem by sending Bartlett as his am signing of the deal. On July 24, Sali ident Luis Colosio is planning to re bassador to France, and De la Madrid nas met with 500 select social, politi sign. This would be a hard blow to as his ambassador to Spain. This move cal, and business leaders to reiterate Salinas, since Colosio is a confidant will force a reshuffling of his cabinet.

EIR August 11, 1989 International 59