Vicente Fox does his best to sink Josefina

"Friendly fire" from PAN ex-president can only harm an already flailing candidate

Last fall, long before Mexico's presidential campaign had begun and even before it was clear who would represent PAN, the National Action Party, there were recurrent reports in the Mexican national press that former president Vicente Fox had offered to help PRI candidate Enrique Peña Nieto. Today there can be little doubt about the reliability of those reports. Fox has shown his true political colors in the upcoming election, and they're plainly red, white and green.

Fox told reporters that although "his heart" is with PAN nominee Josefina Vázquez Mota, he's sure that Peña Nieto will be the country's next president. Suggesting that the contest is "already decided," he said that Vázquez Mota would need a milagrito to prevail -- a little miracle. Fox forged a coalition between PAN and two other parties to capture Los Pinos in 2000, and served until outgoing PAN president Felipe Calderón was elected in 2006.

Peña Nieto lapped up the comments like a cat laps up warm milk. He thanked Fox for the backhanded endorsement, and referred to them as "an expression of words of support and confidence." The PRI nominee called the former president a very experienced politician, whose judgment he trusts.

Fox, who has several times called for peace talks with Mexico's powerful cartels, was interviewed in March by the Milenio news network. He maintains the drug war has been a complete failure, and advocates the complete legalization of all drugs on a worldwide basis (http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2011/10/vicente-fox-urges-legalization-of-all.html). For obvious reasons, his relationship with Calderón has been strained at times.

In his March interview Fox harshly criticized the U.S. He accused federal agencies of being in bed with Mexican narcotics traffickers -- including El Chapo” Guzmán -- by offering them money (or for those who've been captured, lighter prison sentences) in return for inside information about drug cartel operations and competitors. Fox told Milenio, "I've not heard Barack Obama say, 'ya basta' (enough already), when it comes to drugs."

Fox claims that 60 million people in the United States are guilty of drug crimes, "including presidents Obama and Clinton," who have admitted to past marijuana usage. He argues that the U.S. has done nothing of substance to prevent drugs from crossing its border with Mexico, and noted that American forces are used to operating "in foreign wars, not in their own territory." Fox has called for the removal of the Mexican army from the drug war, as has PRD presidential candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador on several occasions (http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/02/lopez-obrado-repeats-promise-to-pull.html).

Late today PAN leaders reacted with predictable annoyance to Fox's comments. One said, "many claimed it would take a miracle for Vicente Fox to win in 2000, but he did so. Our candidate is going to win this election."

My opinion: Vicente Fox is a brazen political opportunist. He comments today are plainly calculated to curry favor with PRI. While he's on the subject of Guzmán, Fox should offer some insight into where the man might be hiding. The most wanted narcotics trafficker in the world escaped from a Mexican prison (hidden in a laundry cart) on Jan. 19, 2001 -- exactly 50 days after Vicente Fox took office. He hasn't been seen since. The rumors about who may have helped him are many and varied. Some of them lead back to Los Pinos.

Update Apr. 25: Fox and Vázquez Mota met today in Monterrey, for the first time since his comments. Apparently it was intended to be a "kiss and make up" session. In a demonstration of PAN unity, the two appeared at an impromptu press conference where they delivered up gracious comments about one another. Vázquez Mota thanked Fox for being allowed to serve as the Secretary of Social Development during his term as president (2000-2006). Addressing her as "Madame President," Fox told Josefina, "You can count on me unconditionally. I know that Mexico will benefit from your victory, from your talents, from the better future you're going to bring to all of us." Fox, always the politician, is plainly trying to have it both ways.

June 5: Vicente Fox, a PRIsta in very thin disguise.
June 17: Fox said today he will not resign from the party. Fox: "No renunciaré al PAN".
June 21: Fox insists he's no traitor to PAN.

Vicente Fox says legalize all drugs immediately: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/04/vicente-fox-legalize-all-drugs.html.
Vicente Fox "let's make a deal" proposal going over like a lead balloon: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2011/10/vicente-fox-lets-make-deal-proposal.html.
Mexican Nobel Prize winner endorses Vázquez Mota: "struggle must continue": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/mexican-nobel-prize-winner-endorses.html.
Mexico's presidential campaign begins: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/mexicos-presidential-campaign-opens.html.

It's good to have friends in Los Pinos, whether they carry the PRI tricolors or PAN's blue and white banner.