Poll: Peña Nieto’s popularity remains sky high

A BGC/Excelsior nationwide telephone poll of name recognition and popularity of leading PRI politicians showed that Mexico State governor Enrique Peña Nieto continues to stand well above other party figures in both dimensions. Only party president Beatriz Paredes comes anywhere close. The new governor of Nuevo León, Rodrigo Medina, takes office with very favorable ratings, but low national name recognition. The controversial governors Mario Marín and Ulises Ruiz continue to have very high negatives, though somewhat less than in the past. (Excelsior 10/5, BGC)

Poll: Peña Nieto tops popularity rankings

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A survey taken prior to the elections confirms Enrique Peña Nieto’s position as the Mexican political figure with the highest approval rating, although his name recognition lags slightly behind President Calderón and AMLO. Beatriz Paredes, the PRI party president and architect of the election campaign comes in second among priistas, while Senate leader Manlio Fabio Beltrones lags badly. Among panistas, only Josefina Vázquez Mota, the former cabinet secretary and likely leader of the PAN in Congress, and Senator Santiago Creel ranked highly. The top-ranked perredistas are Marcelo Ebrard and former Michoacán governor Lázaro Cárdenas. López Obrador’s net approval rating fell from 4.8 in March/April 09 to 4.0 in June. Writing separately about “Golden Boy” Peña Nieto, political scientist Denise Dresser finds in him the model for the PRI’s election victory: “A carefully thought-out, perfectly planned equation: pretty face + money + broadcast TV + advertising + the PRI dinosaurs = electoral victory.” (Excelsior 7/13, Reforma 7/13)

(Net positive rating: % approval – % disapproval; Approval index = weighted average score, 1-10 scale)

PRI: Wedding symbolizes victory

The wedding of the daughter of Emilio Chuayffet, became a symbol for the PRI’s return to power. The former governor of Mexico State and Government Secretary under Ernesto Zedillo will be the leader of the PRI’s delegation in the next Chamber of Deputies. The witnesses of honor were Mexico state Governor Enrique Peña Nieto and former president Carlos Salinas de Gortari. Also prominent in the 700-guest event was party president Beatriz Paredes.  (Reforma 7/13, Universal 7/11)

PRI-PAN debate called off at last minute

The scheduled debate between the heads of the PRI and the PAN, Beatriz Paredes and Germán Martínez, was called off after the Radio and TV Chamber (CIRT) said they would refuse to broadcast it.  The PRD and the PSD parties filed complaints with the Federal Electoral Institute about being excluded, and the broadcasters said the risk of being sanctioned by the IFE was too great. Columnist Sergio Sarmiento noted that the IFE has no legal basis for opposing the debate, but, “In Mexico everything that is not expressly prohibited is permitted … unless the IFE says otherwise.” It is now highly unlikely that there will be any debate prior to the elections. (Reforma 6/16, 6/17)

PAN and PRI party leaders to debate

The two leaders of the PAN and the PRI, Germán Martínez and Beatriz Paredes, will hold a debate on Wednesday, June 17th.  The PRD and the minor parties will not participate.

PRI and PAN party leaders agree to debate

PAN leader Germán Martínez agreed to a challenge from his PRI counterpart, Beatriz Paredes, to debate the state of the nation and their respective parties’ policy proposals before the July elections. Martínez demanded a two-person debate, excluding the PRD and minor parties. No date or format has yet been agreed. This agreement follows on the heels of a call by Government Secretary Fernando Gómez Mont: “I encourage a debate in front of the nation by the principal political forces, and the federal government will be more than disposed to respond to its critics.”     (Universal 5/26)

PRI governors demand counterattacks against PAN

A meeting of the PRI governors and congressional leaders with party president Beatriz Paredes was a litany of demands that she be more combative against the PAN’s constant attacks.  Paredes was quoted as saying, “My strategists tell me that it won’t be productive to enter into a direct confrontation with the PAN. The moment we do so, the voters will perceive a radicalization and not see us as a serene party that has proposals and experience in government.” Despite this, the PRI (using the pseudonym Anton Chigurh) produced its first YouTube video attacking Calderón for his handling of the flu outbreak. (Universal 5/23, Reforma 5/25)

PAN wins support of social security workers union chief

The PAN won the support of Valdemar Gutiérrez Fragoso, the
leader of the 300,000-strong Social Security workers’ union. Gutiérrez,
who had previously agreed to run for the PRI, got the number
two slot on the PAN’s proportional representation list – a guaranteed
seat – in the next Congress. Gutiérrez said that the decision to go
with the PAN “isn’t personal, … but that of the congress of the social
security union…. And to [PRI leader] Beatriz Paredes, we offer our
diplomatic thanks.” (Universal 4/8)

PAN leader blasts PRI on drug trafficking

Speaking at the annual banker’s convention in Acapulco, PAN party president Germán Martínez blasted the PRI: “It’s time for the PRI to define fully if it will support the fight against drug trafficking and organized crime. … President Felipe Calderón and the PAN are on the side of security. We want to know what side the PRI is on.” The PANista, who was sharing the podium with PRI leader Beatriz Paredes, said, “The old political culture of the country, the culture of deals, of accommodation, isn’t the way to confront organized crime, nor will it generate a viable and durable atmosphere for public peace.” In her response, Paredes called Martinez’s statements a “lamentable spectacle” and “very damaging to democracy.” (Proceso 3/19)