PRI elite still determine their party’s candidates
Amidst criticism of the PRI’s undemocratic selection process, the PRI’s newly appointed candidate for governor of Jalisco has denied he was hand-picked by the party leadership. Following a day of drawn-out discussions on January 5, the PRI named Jorge Aristoteles Sandoval Diaz, the 35-year-old mayor of Guadalajara, as its candidate in the July 1 election.
Selected ahead of six other hopefuls, who have now agreed to support his campaign, Sandoval was chosen in a meeting of the PRI’s National Executive Committee (CEN) headed by party president Pedro Joaquin Coldwell, at the national headquarters in Mexico City.
This week Sandoval rejected claims that his appointment was a “dedazo,” the Spanish term for when the party elite point the finger in approval at a given candidate, in lieu of any democratic nomination process. The PRI grew notorious for this practice during its 71-year unbroken reign, with each president essentially hand-picking his successor.
“It was not a ‘dedazo.’ The ‘dedazo’ is imposed, this was an agreement by mutual consent,” explained Sandoval, in response to speculation over his appointment. Without giving further details, the mayor alluded to “scientific methods, analysis, debate, arguments, counter arguments, and consensus” during the behind-closed-doors meeting.
Yet Sandoval’s appointment has provoked widespread skepticism over whether the PRI has changed from the days of old. Certainly, the PRI’s antiquated selection process contrasts with those of its political rivals.
To decide the presidential candidate of the Mexican left, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard recently agreed to a series of inquests to determine which of them had greater national support. Even the National Action Party (PAN) has taken the unusual step this year of conducting public elections (essentially a primary) to determine its candidate for governor of Jalisco.
Unsurprisingly, the PRI’s methods drew criticism from their opponents.
“It is an undemocratic method. This is not a new PRI, it is the same old PRI,” said Hernan Cortes, a PAN candidate for governor. Another panista vying for the position, Alfonso Peterson, praised his “party’s decision to listen to people to see who will be the candidate.”
The PRI Executive Committee in Jalisco had a different take on Sandoval’s candidacy, proclaiming “it strengthens the unity of the party and puts us on the way to victory.”
Like the PRI’s presidential candidate Enrique Peña Nieto, many suspect Sandoval was chosen in part for his youthful, handsome appearance.
Elected as mayor of Guadalajara in 2010, Sandoval will take a leave of absence from January 12. The city council is expected to name an interim mayor on this date.
Married and a father of two, the young mayor previously worked as a lawyer at his alma mater, the public Universidad de Guadalajara, where he was also a law professor. On his official webpage, Sandoval states, “I come from a traditional family in Guadalajara, where I formed the solid values and principles that have helped me throughout my professional and personal life. I learned to love my city and its inhabitants, and to respect the history and legacy of our country and Jalisco, the birthplace of great men and women.”
Despite his age, Sandoval is not without experience. Like current governor Emilio Gonzalez, he served as deputy in the LVII Jalisco Legislature, before serving as a Guadalajara city councilor from 2001 to 2003. This work, he says, “certainly helped me understand the great responsibility and honor that comes with being the mayor of this noble city.” He was elected mayor in 2009.
Sandoval will need to utilize this experience, as well as his looks, if he is to win the state governorship. The PAN has governed for 18 years in Jalisco, and the state is now is considered a party stronghold.
Mexico’s political campaigns revving up
In accordance with new electoral rules approved in the reforms of 2007 and 2008, the official campaigning dates for this year’s presidential election have been set, along with several key dates in the local state elections.
The “pre-campaigns,” or primaries, are already underway and run through to February 15, by which time all parties should have chosen candidates for all positions, from mayor to president of the Republic. Throughout this period over 13 million spots will be aired to promote political parties, and the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE).
The official campaign period – halved under the new laws from 186 to 90 days – takes place from March 30 until June 27, before Mexicans go to the polls on July 1. Across the country 17 state governorships are up for renewal, including in Jalisco, where voters will also elect two senators and 125 state legislators.
The National Action Party (PAN) currently holds 63 municipal councils in Jalisco; the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) has 45 and the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) just nine.
The PRI is looking to reclaim the state governorship, which the PAN has held for 18 years through three subsequent administrations. The PRI selected Guadalajara Mayor Arisoteles Sandoval as its candidate on January 5 in a behind-closed doors meeting, while the PAN candidate will be selected in a vote open to the public on February 5.
Campaign laws restrict the level of campaigning and advertising that local and national candidates are allowed to engage in ahead of the election. However, given that two of Mexico’s three major parties have already nominated a presidential candidate, it seems they will effectively be able to begin campaigning early, during the primary stage, without violating electoral law.
The PRI has selected Enrique Peña Nieto as its candidate, while Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador won a poll to claim the nomination of the leftist PRD. The incumbent PAN has yet to decide upon a candidate, although Josefina Vazquez Mota currently leads the polls.
The IFE recently stated it will not act unless specific complaints of overt campaigning are made against any of the candidates ahead of the official campaign season. Dismissing a complaint filed last week by the PAN for alleged early campaigning, Peña Nieto maintained that his party has respected campaign laws.
“The recent agreement of the IFE reaffirms the right to hold encounters with supporters behind closed doors,” he said. “The PRI wants to be a scrupulous observer of the electoral legislation.”
In the presidential race, each candidate is restricted to an expenditure of just over 167 million pesos for 60 days of campaigning, an average of 2.77 million pesos per day. In total, including promotion for other positions, political parties can spend over 300 million pesos during the campaign season.
Due to the recent electoral reforms, political parties no longer have to pay for media spots from the budget allocated to them annually. Instead the IFE designates the distribution of television and radio spots, as well as closely monitoring the fairness of media coverage.
Mayor to run under PRI banner for governor
Jorge Aristoteles Sandoval Diaz was chosen by party officials in a meeting headed by the PRI’s national president, Pedro Joaquin Coldwell, at party headquarters in Mexico City on Thursday, January 5.
Sandoval was selected ahead of six other aspiring candidates, who have agreed to support his campaign. “We are absolutely determined to go on together. Our commitment is to unify behind one candidate,” said Jalisco Senator Ramiro Hernandez, who had also sought the party’s nomination.
Like the PRI’s presidential candidate, Enrique Peña Nieto, Sandoval is a young, handsome figure, typical of the new image the party seeks to project. The PRI is aiming to end the dominance of the National Action Party (PAN), which has held the Jalisco governorship for 18 years.
The Tequila Files 