He is (probably) the next president of Mexico

Enrique Peña Nieto / DR

Let me tell you the story of another foregone conclusion.  Two years before the presidential election, all the Mexicans are convinced that the next president has already been chosen. A poll created a shock wave among the analysts : according to Consulta Mitofsky, an independent consulting office, the PRI candidate Enrique Peña Nieto would win the election with more than a 50% of the votes. It recalls another era – not so far from us – that lasted over 70 years, when the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) was a single party in Mexico.

The difference is huge between Enrique Peña Nieto and the other virtual candidates. Even Manuel Lopez Obrador is far from him, sealed by the disastrous image he left in 2006 (when he fought against the results of the election and considered himself as the legitimate president during several months). Now the PRI has over 35 points ahead. An unbridgeable gap.

In some way, it is the sign of a deep political crisis. Nobody questions Peña Nieto on his role in the violent clashes in Atenco, as he was the governor of the State of Mexico when numerous allegations of human rights abuses were committed (including rapes on women from the police force and the death of a 14 year old boy), even if the Supreme Court – not unanimously – exonerated him. The 44 year old man also led the project of transforming Teotihuacan pyramids into a place of sound and light show, that could damage the monuments, according to scientists. He is also said to be the candidate of the very controversial ex president Carlos Salinas de Gortari and the very powerful TV channel Televisa. To be continued…