Mexico is witnessing an unprecedented public political clash between a former president and the country’s current leader.
The dispute began after the magazine Letras Libres published an essay by former president Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León (1994-2000) titled “Mexico: From Democracy to Tyranny.” In the piece, Zedillo delivered a scathing critique of the policies of the governing party, Morena, which sparked a public debate between President Claudia Sheinbaum and Zedillo himself.
Since the piece was published, Zedillo, who for years had refrained from publicly commenting on the nation’s political course, has published three more letters in response to Sheinbaum’s statements.
What did Zedillo’s first essay say?
In his first essay, Zedillo gives a brief review of Mexico’s troubled transition to democracy and accuses the Morena party — founded by Sheinbaum’s predecessor Andrés Manuel López Obrador — of steering the country back to authoritarian rule.
“Having come to power thanks to the democracy that we Mexicans achieved after many struggles, López Obrador and his party have worked hard — and have made great progress —to destroy it,” Zedillo wrote.
He singled out the judicial reform proposed by former president López Obrador last year and championed by Sheinbaum, which instituted the popular election of judicial officials, including judges, magistrates and ministers of Mexico’s Supreme Court (SCJN).
“No truly democratic country elects its judges this way. That’s something dictators only invent to control the judiciary,” Zedillo stated, while adding that Morena is seeking to impose a “regime” to make “arbitrary and abusive” decisions according to its own political interests.
The disappearance of autonomous institutions like the National Institute of Transparency and Access to Information (INAI) and the militarization of public security are indicators of an “autocratic and tyrannical” government, Zedillo continued, before accusing Morena and Sheinbaum of having “assassinated” Mexico’s “young democracy.”
What did Sheinbaum say back?
Following these accusations, Sheinbaum fired back.
“Now it turns out Zedillo is the champion of democracy,” she stated during her morning press conference on April 28.
Sheinbaum questioned Zedillo’s role in the 1995 bank bailout known as Fobaproa, suggesting that he and those close to him benefited at the expense of millions of indebted and bankrupt Mexicans.
“It was a scam to the nation,” she said.
The Fobaproa is a contingency fund created in 1990 during the government of President Carlos Salinas de Gortari, and utilized by Zedillo in 1995 in response to one of Mexico’s most severe economic crises. Activating the Fobaproa resulted in the government acquiring bank debt for 552.3 billion pesos (US $28 billion).
Sheinbaum added that Zedillo’s sudden public opinion on the judicial reform shows a lack of credibility the likes of other opposition spokesmen such as Ricardo Anaya, Alito Moreno or Enrique Krauze (founder of Letras Libres).
“They’re saying [the judicial reform] is ‘authoritarianism’ because the people are going to elect the judiciary,” Sheinbaum said during her April 28 press conference. “Imagine the contradiction. Isn’t a government run by the people a democracy?”
What happened next?
Following Sheinbaum’s statements, Zedillo published a second letter proposing the appointment of “an independent, international auditor without any potential conflict of interest” to “evaluate a series of projects initiated by the López Obrador government.” He recalled that during his government, an independent international auditor evaluated the bank bailout.
In turn, Sheinbaum escalated the clash with accusations of links to organized crime between the former president and his wife. The president referred to a reported phone call between a woman, allegedly Nilda Patricia Velasco, Zedillo’s wife, and a member of the now-defunct Colima Cartel, calling for an investigation into potential cartel ties.
Morena senators have since announced plans to create a special commission to review Zedillo’s financial dealings, particularly with regard to Fobaproa. According to the group, the federal Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF) has reported irregularities in the audits of Fobaproa, as well as the discovery of secret accounts.
Zedillo fired back with yet another letter, accusing Sheinbaum of ignoring his claims and resorting to personal attacks as a way to distract Mexicans from the serious threats to democracy of her government. In a Sunday interview for Ciberdiálogos with León Krauze, Zedillo doubled down, arguing that Morena’s so-called fourth transformation means “a transformation from democracy into tyranny.”
With reports from El País, El Economista, Reforma and El Universal
Zedillo needs to go away quietly into the night. Still trying to divide the people instead of unite the people. He really is no longer relevant….
si !!!
Si!!!
In my opinion, this is a non-issue. It’s 6 of 1, half dozen of the other. Corruption is present in all political parties, and Presidencies in Mexico. The only differences lie in who benefits.
Zedillo has no ethic nor moral stance to speak up of democracy…….the PRI & PAN were one and the same for long time until they decided to make public their romance. “La Dictadura Perfecta” was the periodo where they governed. It took for people to stand up and said “NO MAS” and give power to those who have the wellbeing of the people as a priority. A principle they can not grasp at all.
Well said!
There’s a reason why the international financial community devalued the peso last year upon Sheinbaum’s (Morena) election. They expressed little faith that Mexico was heading in the right direction from a democracy standpoint. They expressed less optimism about how nations and corporations should invest in Mexico with such a large consolidation of power. Should an industry become successful, could Mexico nationalize that company/industry to its benefit as they have done in the past. Bottom line, less trust in Mexico going forward.
Regardless of how one defines, or what patina one puts on the “international finance community”, it is indisputable that as international corporations, they are fundamentally driven first by investor returns, and second on the reduction or elimination of the government regulations to which their operations are subject. Any assertion that the motivation driving what the “international finance community” does is based on a concern about “right direction from a democracy standpoint” instead of investor wealth and deregulation is irrational and defies the self evident truth. Mexico has a very long and tragic history with international corporations. And under La Presidenta’s steady and thoughtful leadership she has outmaneuvered Trump without the angry rancor exhibited by the other nations. Mexico has a steady hand at the helm with Sheinbaum while under Zedillo Mexico was auctioned corruptly to the “international financial community” .
Si
SI !! VIVA La Presidenta Sheinbaum !!
Mexico is blessed to have her as it’s leader and I’m sure many Americano/as wish we had her instead of what we got !! VIVA MEXICO !!
Said just right, I have less trust in Mexico going forward.
Again, you must learn of Mexico’s history to understand what has transpired instead of falling to these right wing alarmist reporting. MND should be ashamed of itself.
It’s well documented and verified that Zedillo, during his presidency removed supreme court justices and installed hand picked judges. He also converted private debt (bailed out private corporations) and turned it to a national debt. Mexican’s are still paying this debt named FOBAPROA.
He will go down in history as one of the most corrupt presidents Mexico has ever had.
I agree with Norse Hombre. Except that it applies world wide not just in Mexico.
Zedillo was not corrupt but a tragic figure who paved the way for a new president not of the PRI. He immediately exiled himself to forestall the wrath of the PRI who had already murdered his friend Colosio. Without Zedillo we may yet be under the yoke of the corrupt PRI.
Dang. Compare what is happening here with the North. Supreme court apointed for life and a president who ignores the court, the constitution etc. a system that supports billinaires, etc. poor little Mexico, so corrupt and backward! Lol
Please. The SCOTUS is all that stands between Trump and a Mexican style country. John oberts and Amy will save thecountry by a 6-3 vote on whether the country is run by the 5th and 14 due process requirements.
Sheinbaum reveals her unique position in history. Just another Mexican president, a corrupt authoritarian who follows in the steps of the worst President since Salinas de BUllshit.
Mexico has Zedillo to assign any movement towards democracy. How long was it before he announ ed the Fox victory, a matter of hours long before the PRI was ready to announce its theft of the Presidency.
VIVA ZEDILLO! VIVA LA DEMOCRACIA! Death to bad government. E.G. AMLO government. Morena government. No civilized country elects its own judiciary. Vivilization calls for a mix of elections and appointment. It requires a real Constitution that is the basis not one run by a Trump, AMLO os Sheinbaum.