Federal Police capture “La Barbie”

As widely reported, Federal Police captured Édgar Valdez Villarreal, aka “La Barbie” in Lerma, Mexico State, in an operation that involved 1,200 police officers. The Ministry of Public Security said that they had started tracking Valdez in June 2009.  He was said to be the chief enforcer of the Beltrán Leyva cartel, and one of the figures who was trying to assume leadership of the cartel after Arturo Beltrán Leyva was killed by Navy marines in Cuernavaca last December. Valdez is a U.S. citizen and is under indictment in the U.S.  The Mexican Government offered a Ps. 30 million reward for his arrest, and the U.S. government had a US$2 million reward out for Valdez. (Excelsior 8/31)

Back from vacation

We have been on holiday most of August.  We are now back and will resume posting on a regular basis. Today’s newsletter summarizes the most important policy developments of the past few weeks.  What is most notable is what did not happen:  no special session of Congress to take up pending legislation and no mobilization of political and social forces to address the growing security challenges.

Werner leaving Finance Ministry

The Undersecretary of Finance Alejandro Werner, who has been the principal symbol of continuity in economic policy management since the appointment of Ernesto Cordero as Finance Minister late last year, confirmed today that he will leave the Ministry. Reforma is reporting that José Antonio Meade, currently the Undersecretary for Revenue, will become the new Undersecretary and José Antonio González Anaya, currently the coordinator with states will take Meade’s place. (Reforma 8/16)