Mexico's new PRI government seeks huge increase in domestic security budget, as six year drug war rolls on

Almost $520 million dollars sought for fiscal 2013, 47% more than in final Calderón budget

Guadalajara -
Just three weeks in to his six year term, aides to president Enrique Peña Nieto have announced that he'll ask the country's House of Deputies for a 2013 crime fighting budget of over 6.71 billion pesos - almost $520 million dollars.

The Institutional Revolutionary Party administration proposal, if approved by Mexico's congress, will represent a 47% increase above former president Felipe Calderón's 2012 domestic security budget. Calderón left office on Dec. 1, and will begin teaching next month at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in Cambridge, Mass. Peña Nieto, who has been in office 23 days, has promised to quell drug cartel and organized crime violence during his first 100 days. Last week he said the hallmark of his new administration would be crime prevention rather than crime punishment (EPN presents long awaited security plan).

Much of the proposed excess over the current fiscal year budget would go to Mexico's Defense Dept., and to funding domestic anti-crime operations of the nation's crack naval and marine forces. Mexican marines have been at the forefront of the anti-cartel offensive - launched by Calderón 72 months ago - and have scored notable victories.

The first of Peña Nieto's six annual budgets calls for $2.5 billion pesos to be spent on unspecified crime prevention programs, and another $1.5 billion pesos on a new national gendarmerie of 40,000 agents, which will focus on search-and-destroy missions and enhanced security in outlying provinces. The new president has also promised to enlarge Mexico's Federal Police, another paramilitary force, by 35,000 officers. A total of 17 separate programs linked to the anti-crime strategy are identified in the proposed budget.

In Mexico all spending bills must originate in the nation's lower chamber, just as they do in the House of Representatives in the United States. The congress could vote on the security budget within days.

Pena Nieto administration officials project that Mexico's economy will grow about 3.5% in fiscal 2013, considerably better than current estimates for U.S. economic growth next year.

Apr. 7 - Mexican states will spend $1.17 billion on security in 2013
Jan. 25 - Peña Nieto: Mexico poised for 4% economic growth in 2013
Dec. 25 - Death toll in Jalisco-Michoacán violence rises to 28, including 13 police officers
Dec. 24 - Christmas Eve narco violence wracks Jalisco and Michoacán, leaving 7 police officers dead
Dec. 19 - Enrique's challenging homework
Dec. 8 - Extreme narco violence marks Enrique Peña Nieto's first week
Dec. 2 - Narcos send Enrique Peña Nieto a message: nothing has changed
Nov. 21 - Mexican survey gives poor marks to Calderón, reveals little confidence in Peña Nieto
Sept. 6 - Peña Nieto transition team confirms: Mexican army, marines will remain on the streets
July 7 - Security consultant elaborates on "new" Mexican drug war strategy - but is it?
July 5 - Enrique Peña Nieto's Manifesto makes New York Times

Mexico's Marines
Oct. 9 - Mexican security forces kill Los Zetas leader in gun battle
June 15 - Mexican marines arrest top financial aid to Z-40, Zeta # 2
Dec. 13, 2011 - Top boss of Los Zetas arrested in Veracruz - said to be co-founder of dreaded cartel