Never a dull moment as Jalisco election campaign marches on
Candidate rages as drone interrupts family weekend
Enrique Alfaro, the Citizens Movement (MC) candidate for Guadalajara mayor, was surprised last weekend by a drone hovering above his home, and has accused his main rival, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), of spying and political subterfuge.
MC Jalisco President Hugo Luna said two members of the PRI admitted that the drone was sent by their party to gather information about Alfaro’s personal assets. The police were contacted in response to the incident but Attorney General Luis Najera said there is little evidence to support an investigation.
“The drone was hovering for about 30 minutes,” Luna said. “It’s the house where he lives with his wife and daughters. This is a flagrant and violent invasion of privacy and represents a looming security threat, especially during an election.”
Dad’s improprieties put governor on the spot
Jalisco Governor Aristoteles Sanodval found himself in an embarrassing situation when his father, magistrate Leonel Sandoval, was taped encouraging Supreme Court staffers to secure votes for the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), even at the cost of breaking the law by influencing voters on election day.
The PRI governor reportedly had private words with his father, who subsequently took a leave of absence from his post for 50 days – the period corresponding to the election run-up. While several political parties called for his resignation as a magistrate and filed criminal complaints, Sandoval Sr. will not face charges. Jalisco Supreme Court President Luis Carlos Vega Pamanes defended Sandoval, arguing that talking about a crime was different from committing it.
Tortilla wrapping paper to promote elections?
The Jalisco Electoral Institute has been toying with the idea of promoting the upcoming June elections on paper used to wrap tortillas. The campaign would reach about 4,600 shops and restaurants and have an estimated cost of 400,000 pesos. The initiative is part of a wider program to encourage high voter turnout. Ironically, the idea originally came from the Green Party of Mexico (PVEM), which was fined this month for illegally printing campaign propaganda on tortilla wrappings.
Dog returns to election spotlight
A pitbull named Fidel is set to feature in the Jalisco elections in June, as disenchanted citizens are encouraged to null their votes by writing his name on the ballots. The Twitter account, @SeBuscaFidel (looking for Fidel), features tweets criticizing politicians and outlining the dog’s campaign promises. On April 8, Fidel even promised to make a public declaration of assets.
The dog appeared in the 2009 election, when his owner Carlos Delgado used him as a symbol of weariness “towards the political class, the atmosphere of mistrust and the poor representation of citizens.”
Fidel was proposed as an alternative candidate for District 12, where Delgado claims he secured 3,500 votes.