Tax package faces uncertain fate in Senate

Despite the overwhelming vote in favor, all the parties immediately started attacking the tax package that was passed, and pledged to change it in the Senate. A firestorm started when PAN party leader César Nava said that the PAN voted for the package “because the PRI did not leave us any other alternative. Faced with their opposition, their closed-mindedness, and their rejection of the President’s proposal … we had to fall back on this alternative.” The PRI issued a statement condemning Nava’s attempt “to provoke a lynch-mob environment,” and threatened to reject the entire package in the Senate. The PRI leadership met Sunday night to define their position toward the tax package, but adjourned without a consensus. The Senate deadline for voting the revenue measures is Friday. (Universal 10/23, Reforma 10/26)

PAN proposes cutting party financing

PAN party president César Nava proposed a constitutional amendment to cut public financing for parties by 50%. The parties currently receive government funding of about Ps. 3.1 billion pesos per year, and Ps. 4.5 billion in election years, based on an automatic formula linked to the minimum wage and the number of registered voters. PRI congressional leader Francisco Rojas rejected the proposal, saying the savings would be minimal. “[Nava] wants to deflect public opinion to the political parties instead of focusing on the lack of willingness by the federal government to impose austerity [and] on the high level bureaucrats who command extraordinary salaries,” he said. (Reforma 10/9)

A divided PAN elects Nava as party chief

The PAN national assembly elected former presidential private secretary César Nava as the new party president to serve out the term of Germán Martínez, who resigned after the July 5 elections. Nava was the sole candidate, and the vote was 290 in favor, with 39 against and 19 abstentions. Another 23 assembly members, including Nava opponents Diego Fernández de Cevallos and former President Vicente Fox, did not attend. Three Nava opponents were given seats on the central committee: Ricardo García Cervantes, Héctor Larios, and Humberto Aguilar. In addition, Aguilar and Javier Corral were elected to the “Committee of Reflection” that will analyze the causes for the PAN’s poor performance in the election. (Universal 8/9)

Fear and loathing inside the PAN

Only former presidential private secretary César Nava registered to run for PAN party president, after party elders including Santiago Creel and Manuel Espino said they would boycott the internal election. As previously reported, Creel had called for a period of ‘reflection’ on the causes of the PAN’s electoral defeat before rushing to new elect a new leader. According to the Bajo Reserva column: “The discontent among the 360 members of the [PAN’s] National Council is growing, and the group expressing its disagreement with ‘the imposition’ [of Nava] is not being reined in.… That Nava would be on his own and under a cloud is a terrible message for a party that has worked carefully over the decades to be competitive, to show itself as a model of democracy, and to be the best face of the country, argued the opponents of the so-called ‘official candidate.’” The PAN leadership vote will take place on August 8^th. (Universal 7/21, 7/27)

PAN to elect new party chief on Aug. 8

The PAN central committee (CEN) agreed to convene the party’s National Council on August 8th to elect a new “interim” party president to succeed Germán Martínez, who resigned in the wake of the July 5 elections.  Candidates will need to register by July 24. Most observers think the favorite for the post is César Nava, the President’s former private secretary, who was just elected to the new Chamber of Deputies.  (Universal 7/14)