Senior PAN officials claim to have photographs and audio corroborating the ex-governor’s backing for Alfaro, who was leading the race for mayor in the most recent poll.
Gonzalez’s friendship with Alfaro is well documented, and many party members believe he secretly wanted the MC candidate to win the 2012 election for governor – and be his successor – rather than PAN candidate Fernando Guzman.
Gonzalez may challenge his expulsion and has already written to PAN’s National President Gustavo Madero Muñoz, expressing his regret at the decision.
“With great sadness I heard the news conference in which the candidates and the leadership of my party in Guadalajara announced that they plan to make me responsible for the electoral challenges they are facing,” Gonzalez wrote, suggesting he was being made a scapegoat for the difficulties facing the party, which is lagging in a distant third place in pre-election polls.
“I am and will remain with PAN. I will continue to support the party,” Gonzalez wrote. “The decision that I took many years ago I reaffirm today, despite this misguided electoral strategy.”
For his part, Alfaro has rejected claims he is allied with Gonzalez. “Do you deny an alliance with Emilio Gonzalez?” a reporter asked. “Absolutely,” Alfaro responded. “I have nothing more to say regarding the matter. The PAN should sort out its own problems.”
Although proceedings to expel Gonzalaez have begun, the process is likely to take several months.