Whether at a national, state or municipal level, there seem to be few gracious losers among Mexico’s politicians in post-election season.
Having lost by 5.25 percent of the vote, Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) candidate Gerardo Degollado Gonzalez is contesting the result of the Chapala mayoral election. Alleging voting irregularities in 20 percent of polling booths, Degollado has called for the victory of National Action Party (PAN) candidate Joaquin Huerta Barrios to be annulled.
Degollado also complained that the “election was unfair and biased” because Alejandra Diana Arredondo Wilson, wife of Jalisco Electoral Institute (IEPC) President Tomas Figueroa Padilla, worked for the PAN from 2004 to 2006.
Ironically, Citizen’s Movement candidate Enrique Alfaro, who lost out to the PRI’s Aristoteles Sandoval in his bid for the state governorship, has accused Figueroa – a former friend of his – of bias in favor of the PRI. Spitting the dummy out, it appears, is a common occurrence across party lines.
Winner’s commentsOn Thursday morning, the day he received IEPC certification of the PAN victory, Mayor-elect Joaquin Huerta told local reporters that he was aware of Degollado’s legal challenge. “He’s within his rights if he believes he can establish grounds for annulment. It’s up to the Electoral Tribunal to determine the outcome. But after he puts up his fight – because I know what’s coming – I invite him to respect the decision and work with us in unity for the benefit of the citizenry.”
Expressing his faith in new technology, Huerta pointed out that there has been no dispute over the electronic ballot system in the other 42 municipalities where it was employed – including several places in which the winner’s victory was far narrower than his own.
Assuming that the election results stand, Degollado is slated to represent the PRI on the new city council along with Maria de la Luz Mendoza Huerta and Amador Torres Romero. Huerta and six others will fill the majority of seats for the PAN, while the 11th spot goes to Citizen’s Movement-Workers Party coalition candidate Francisco Javier Diaz Ochoa.