In the wake of increased drug-related violence in Mexico, a government minister publicly acknowledged what has been known for years — that drug money has influence on Mexico’s national elections, as well as its police force.
Before the Mexican Congress, Juan Camilo Mourino used strong language to describe the influence of drug cartels on the police force. He then turned his attention to the potential impact of drug money on the pending congressional and presidential elections saying that drug leaders have the intention of gaining further control of the government.
Global Integrity reported on the influence of drug cartels in Mexican politics in 2007.
The far-reaching intention of this announcement remains unclear. For now, it seems to simply be a warning to national-level leaders as they prepare their campaigns. However, if Mexico wants to enhance the level of credibility associated with their democratic elections, the President must further extend his campaign against drug cartels by encouraging actionable measures to institute campaign finance reform.
For more, see Global Integrity’s reporting on political finance in Mexico, which we rated as very weak in our 2007 report.
— Norah Mallaney
