The comments were made by Diego Fernández de Cevallos, a prominent National Action Party (PAN) politician who is frequently in the headlines. He was the PAN presidential candidate in 1994, and once served as president of the Mexican Senate.
Cevallos said that the leftist candidate's election complaints are "not honorable; they're serving to generate hate. He wants just to be handed the presidency, like a gift to which he's entitled. López Obrador is not helping the poor. He's not helping the Left. He's not helping Mexico. He's only helping to create a climate of violence, fear and hate." It borders on the "criminal," Cevallos added.
Nor did Cevallos offer words of support for YoSoy 132, the student-dominated protest movement born only two months ago (YoSoy 132 protest arrives in Mérida). The PAN heavyweight claims that YoSoy has clearly abandoned its nonpartisan roots and stated goal of "democratizing information," so that Mexican voters might cast ballots free of what the organization says is gross media bias in the political process. Cevallos said the YoSoy has been taken over by "other forces" -- he didn't name them -- and has been converted into a radical organization. It was a clear reference to the group's flirtation with those who have advocated large scale civil disobedience, to and including street violence, to prevent Mexican president-elect Enrique Peña Nieto from taking the oath of office on Dec. 1 (July 16 - YoSoy 132 discusses civil disobedience to stop Enrique Peña Nieto).
After attending and evaluating three YoSoy rallies in Mérida during the campaign season, MGRR concluded that the organization was highly united in its opposition to Peña Nieto, and fairly united in its support for López Obrador, rendering it anything but nonpartisan. YoSoy 132 returns to Mérida streets, this time showing its true colors. MGRR also predicted that the group will have a short shelf life once Peña Nieto takes office at the end of the year. Yo NO Soy's "summer of discontent".
Former Mexican president Vicente Fox made similar allegations against YoSoy 132 in June. But unlike Fox, a PANista who turned on his own party and openly backed Peña Nieto during the campaign, Diego Cevallos remained loyal to and strongly endorsed PAN presidential candidate Josefina Vázquez Mota.
Anti-Peña Nieto demonstrators turned out in force in Mérida, July 7, 2012
A note on Diego Fernández de Cevallos
In the interest of full disclosure, it should be noted that Cevallos is himself not beyond controversy. The man is a genuine political power broker in this country. He's also loaded, among Mexico's super-rich. In May 2010 Cevallos was reportedly kidnapped from one of his rural estates. Months later, in December, he surfaced unscathed. He has released few details about what happened during his long captivity, saying that he bore his kidnappers "no animosity." In 2011 the Milenio network interviewed him, and asked him if it was true that his family had paid a $20 or $30 million (USD) ransom to those responsible. His response: "I don't really remember the exact amount. It's nothing to me. I've always had money." The government conducted no serious investigation of the case. Many questions remain unanswered.
July 11 - Memo to Andrés Manuel López Obrador: "Ya basta, señor"
July 21 - Mexico facing greater political crisis this year than in 2006
July 18 - López Obrador may take his case to Inter-American Court
July 15 - Spain's El País blasts López Obrador
July 13 - López Obrador fires in all directions, demanding a new election
July 2 - Andrés Manuel López Obrador calls election "dirty, a national shame"
MGRR YoSoy 132 reports
Yo NO Soy's "summer of discontent"
Mexicans surveyed on YoSoy 132 attitudes
Mérida YoSoy 132 promises to turn up the heat
YoSoy 132 returns to Mérida streets, this time showing its true colors
YoSoy 132 protest arrives in Mérida
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