Air of corruption rife in elections for governor

Foto: Alejandro Muñoz

By: Helena Prentis

The presence of corruption hangs around many parts of Mexico, causing the oppression of millions of people for the benefit of the rich, or endangering the lives of many by allowing cartels to continue their work. And although perhaps on a smaller scale, the threat of corruption is seemingly growing in the elections for governor of Puebla.

The constant accusations of corruption between candidates had lead to the suggestion by the PRI candidate Blanca Alcalá that all candidates and their families should take a polygraph test, following the supposedly untrue claims that she own forty-five properties amounting to a sum of eleven million pesos, as well as accusations of money-laundering and using her influence unethically.

As a response, Alcalá demanded that José Antonio Gali Fayad produce his financial records, suggesting that he owns properties throughout Puebla, as well as a house in Miami and a private jet, all adding up to a huge 77 million pesos. The constant battle between the two parties has lead to the PRI accusing PAN of thirty-five counts of unfair campaigning tactics, such as phone tapping.

All these accusations, whilst aimed as attempts to slander the opposition and install faith in the accuser, in my opinion only really serves to suggest that no party is really completely trustworthy, each candidate is too willing to accuse the other.