Nepotism: “He who breathes, aspires”

Saúl is the third of the Monreal brothers who aspires to be governor of Zacatecas from 2027 to 2033. Ricardo was from 1998 to 2004. David currently occupies that position. It ends in 2027. It seemed that Claudia Sheinbaum 's initiative against electoral nepotism would frustrate her aspirations. The President's initial proposal was for it to come into force in 2027, but she bowed to Morena's pragmatism.

The aforementioned law put the coalition with the PVEM in danger, which does not want to let go of San Luis Potosí, the only state it governs. Its strong card to keep the reins of the state is Senator Ruth González , wife of the current governor. The Green made it clear to its Morena allies that if the anti-nepotism law was not postponed to 2030, it would vote against it. Without the hosts of the former Green Boy —who is no longer a boy and even less a green— the government does not reach the qualified majority (two thirds of the legislators present) to approve the aforementioned law. The PVEM has 14 senators. Enough to stop the government steamroller.

Senator Saúl Monreal benefited from this cherry-tinted pragmatism. His chances remain intact, if the House of Representatives does not modify the bill.

* We spoke with the senator from Zacatecas yesterday. We asked him offhand if he is going to run for governor in 2027.

“Yes, I aspire, like every citizen who is involved in politics. I have a 27-year career. It has always been my desire. Of course: he who breathes, aspires.”

But he clarified: "We will first wait for it to be approved in the Chamber of Deputies, hoping that there is no constitutional or legal impediment.

— Would you look for her?

— Yes, I would look for her, he replied bluntly.

— Does it not matter that your brother is the governor?

— We are a political family. I have a track record. The only inheritance I received from my parents was work and a vocation for service. I will continue working. I am showing that I have the capacity. I will be in the Senate. I will be working from here,” he said.

* Ricardo Anaya and Alito Moreno held a closed-door meeting in the Senate. The meeting lasted for an hour.

The PAN senator avoided talking about his meeting with the PRI president, but the latter did stay to chat with the press. He had promised us: “I’ll be back to talk to you right away.” He kept his word.

Alito said: “We are finding clear coincidences between what is being presented today with the issue of organized crime, and the reforms that have been presented, just by talking, but everything is fine.”

We asked him about the issue of organized crime. The blackmail of El Mayo , the extradition request made by Alejandro Gertz Manero , the position of the President. “What needs to be established and clarified is the position of the Mexican government with respect to organized crime,” he replied.

He added: “There are strong statements from authorities, from the White House itself, that there is a link between organized crime and the Mexican government.

“They have to clarify all these accusations. Which governors, legislators, municipal presidents and politicians linked to Morena or from Morena are in complicity with organized crime.”

The PRI member highlighted that Morena's response to the accusations from the White House was a photo of the governor of Sinaloa, Rubén Rocha , with Andy López Beltrán . "In other words: we are not going to do anything," the PRI member interpreted.

The topic of Sheinbaum 's response to the change made to the anti-nepotism law, so that it comes into effect in five years, came up in the discussion. She proposed 2027. "Remember that here in Mexico what it seems is, and what it seems is that what the President ordered was not heeded even in her party," she pointed out.

* Once again there is a crisis due to the lack of medicines in hospitals and health centres in rural areas. Colima is one of the states where there are problems of this type. The PRI senator, Mely Romero , brought a complaint to the upper house against the governor of that state, Indira Vizcaíno , for blaming doctors for the shortage of medicines.

She quoted a statement from the governor on February 11: “We are reviewing some details that there may be with some staff (from the Regional Hospital) who tell people that the medicine is not available or that they do not have the reagents for the laboratories. They want to send them to the private sector when we do have them,” she said.

According to Romero , these statements led to resignations of hospital staff, protests, partial strikes in health centers, and most seriously: the deputy director of the Regional University Hospital was the victim of an attack and a death threat. “This is the level of danger for those who are caring for life from a hospital there in Colima. Not only are the lives of sick people at risk, but also those of doctors, because there are no medicines, there is no equipment,” he said.