The Breakdown in Law and Order in Mexico

Mexico Senate Approves Proposed National Guard

The Mexican Senate has approved a constitutional amendment permitting the creation of a national guard to be composed of members of the armed forces and existing federal police.  The measure passed by a vote of 127-0.  It must still be approved by a majority of state legislatures.

The unanimous vote is less an endorsement for creating yet another police force than it is an indicator of the weakness of major political parties, the PRI, the PAN, and the PRD.  The PRI government which ended in late 2018 was mired by corruption, including that of the President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto/  Moreover, several PRI governors have been accused of corruption, including César Duarte, Governor of Chihuahua from 2010-2016, hiding in the US hoping to avoid prosecution. The PAN too has been known for widespread corruption both at the national and state levels.  In spite of lavish spending on security the PRI and PAN have failed to control growing violence and crime from organized gangs and cartels.  Aside from severe credibility problems the vote for the national guard is something like the votes to expand executive power after 911:  a vote against leaves a legislator vulnerable to criticism of obstructionism and indifference to the problem.

Mexicans have now given AMLOa great deal of elbow room to deal with escalating violence and crime.  But they will not forgive him if he fails to do something about it.  He owns the problem.