Welcome to The Mexican Globalist, a weekly curated summary on the Foreign Press' coverage of Mexico. We aim to bring you the week’s most important news and our favorite research pieces, along with a little humor. If you dig this newsletter, make sure to give us some love ❤️- if you don’t, still do it, good Karma will come. We invite you to subscribe here!
¡Feliz Día de la Independencia!
Happy Mexican Independence Day
We all know the story of the nerdy kid that got bullied by everyone in school, but then became a successful multi-millionaire tech guru. You know who we are talking about… yes… Elon.
Well, something similar happened this week, when López Obrador, who had been ignored and mocked for years for denouncing acts of corruption by former officials, finally asked Congress for a referendum to be held on whether or not to prosecute his predecessors.
Whether the referendum happens or not, according to the President, all this discussion and leaking of information about former presidents is positive because it prevents future corruption from happening but, we are not sure if he thinks the same thing when the media talks about the possible crimes committed by his relatives. However, there are several doubts about whether corruption is going down. In 2019, the government's self-reported acts of corruption increased 19% compared to 2017 and the number of contracts delivered without a public bidding process, which are usually more transparent, reached a record high figure. This led the WSJ to ask "What is Different Now?
In other news, the US has lifted the “do not travel” advisory for Mexico and its southern border is expected to fully open on September 21st. Also, Mexico celebrated it’s 210th Independence Anniversary with quieter events due to the pandemic. This year, the government put the festivities spotlight on Leona Vicario, one of the key figures in the War of Independence, trying to remind us all that women are an important part of Mexican history - Right, because some symbolic representation is what gender equality really needs in Mexico.
Revenge is not my strong suit, but citizens should have a referendum on prosecuting ex-presidents: AMLO
Financial Times / The Guardian / Reuters
© AMLO has said he doesn’t hate his predecessors, including Felipe Calderon, who allegedly committed electoral fraud against him. Should we believe AMLO?
What happened ? Last Tuesday, President López Obrador has (finally) pushed the nuclear button by delivering a document to the Senate asking for an unprecedented referendum on whether to prosecute his predecessors. The document outlines a list of wrongdoings including a crony privatisation process in the late 20th century, increasing violence nationwide, and a series of corruption scandals.
Have the ex-presidents really been that bad? Enrique Peña Nieto (2012-2018) and Felipe Calderón (2006-2012) have been in the spotlight after high up public officials from their administration were arrested. Emilio Lozoya, former CEO of PEMEX, and Genaro García Luna, former security chief, are being investigated for having accepted bribes. The former from Brazilian firm Odebrecht, while the latter is accused in the US for collaborating with drug kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzman. The question is how much did the presidents know?
Why a referendum and not a formal inquiry? As the referendum might happen on the same day as the midterm elections next June, many have criticized AMLO for trying to shape voter’s minds - and remind them how crooked the opposition really is. What a crime. Others have raised concerns that the president is putting justice and due process at the mercy of the people. Has the president been reading the passage in the Bible where Jesus gets sentenced to death?
What’s next? After the request gets approved by a majority of both chambers of Congress - easy, as Morena and its allies have the numbers - the Supreme Court will have to rule on its legality. Some experts say that the referendum will present legal challenges as the statute of limitations has expired for all living presidents except for the most recent, Enrique Peña Nieto from the PRI, the strongest minority party according to an early September poll. If the Supreme Court pushes back, some argue that the president can still “seek a parallel route” like organizing an informal referendum - which has been done before.
Financial Times / The Guardian / Reuters
✈️“If this was an episode of Black Mirror, it wouldn’t make it to the screen.”
What to do with a customized $130 million presidential plane? Let’s try and sell it? Not enough buyers. Let’s try to raffle it? What would the winner do with the plane? Okay, let’s just do a raffle for cash prizes to help fund the healthcare system. But, who will buy the tickets? Aha! I know, we'll take confiscated money from organized crime to buy raffle tickets and donate them to public hospitals. 😕 The New York Times / Reuters / Financial Times
Above: The custom-made Dreamliner. Who knew the market for secondhand Dreamliners is small? © Henry Romero/Reuters
🚑 Pirate ambulances are taking advantage of Mexicans pain to make money
While listening to emergency radio frequencies, pirate ambulances race to beat their legal competitors to charge patients’ desperate relatives high sums of money in exchange for taking them to the hospital. Hopefully there is a special place in hell reserved for them. Associated Press
💀Mexican official accused of torture in Ayotzinapa case surrenders
After almost six years after the abduction, and apparent massacre, of 43 students in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero, the former head of the Federal Ministerial Police surrendered, pushing the investigation a step towards resolving the case. Mexico is currently seeking to extradite another high up official, from Israel, who is also accused of torture. Reuters
🚢 Archaeologists identify first Mayan slave ship
On this ship, Mayans captured in Mexico were sold to a middleman for 25 pesos, sent to Cuba, and then resold for 160 pesos for men and 120 pesos for women The Guardian
🗞️Mexican journalist who wrote about crime found beheaded
🇺🇸 Mexico asks U.S. for answers about sexual abuse in migrant detention facilities
Newest fashion trend among Mexican Elite? Taking a stroll in a shopping mall with your baby tiger
Translation: "Polanco with "P" for endangered Protected sPecies, Privileges and Morons”
Do you have a meme/GIF you’d like to share with us? Reply to this email with the link.
About The Mexican Globalist
The Mexican Globalist is your one stop shop newsletter that brings you the biggest news about Mexico reported by the Foreign Press. If you want to get this newsletter (and a bit of sarcasm) delivered every week straight to your inbox, please subscribe here.
Comments on this newsletter?
We’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to share them by replying to this email.
AMLO’s quote: “Look at the Reforma, a filthy rag. This newspaper is the protector and sponsor of Carlos Salinas de Gortari”
We must admit that we didn’t know what pasquín was, but according to Sr. Diccionario, it’s an anonymous writing with satire and political content that people used to place in public places. Even though some international journalists have translated it as “filthy rag”, we feel this term does not quite capture the moment.
A bit of context: AMLO was referring to centre-right wing newspaper Reforma after it ran a piece about an embezzlement in Tabasco where another of the President's relatives is potentially involved in acts of corruption. Carlos Salinas de Gortari, probably Mexico’s most infamous President, ran the country between 1988 and 1994, and oversaw the privatization of top public companies like Telmex.