Mexico’s mix of politics and drugs

A mayoral candidate in Mexico has said publicly what just about every Mexican knows to be true — the drug cartels have thoroughly contaminated Mexican politics. But this candidate is caught on tape. The World’s Lorne Matalon reports.
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LISA MULLINS:  First, to Mexico. The country’s efforts to crush its drug gangs have been hindered, in part, by Mexican politicians. There has been a crackdown, hundreds of officials have been arrested in the past month. They’re accused of protecting the cartels. But Mexicans still believe that drug gangs have contaminated politics in Mexico, that the cartels decide who runs for office and, often, who is murdered for resisting those decisions. One mayoral candidate in this Sunday’s mid-term elections made the charge outright. And, as The World’s Lorne Matalon reports, he was caught on tape.

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LORNE MATALON:  The candidate, Mauricio Fernandez said, “Look I’ve got something appalling to tell you.” He then went on to say that two major drug cartels control the police and politics in and around the city of Monterrey, Mexico’s industrial powerhouse. Fernandez’ words were surreptitiously recorded and made public by a member of the audience.

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LORNE MATALON:  On the tape, Fernandez says, “These guys don’t negotiate. Drug trafficking is really endemic and the cartels come in contact with all candidates, at least those who have a chance of winning,” he says.

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LORNE MATALON:  Fernandez went on to say, “Any politician who denies being pressured, extorted or threatened by the cartels is a ‘pure liar.” Fernandez then tells why his wealthy suburb, San Pedro Garza Garcia, is peaceful, while killings have been much more frequent elsewhere around Monterrey. Fernandez states the Beltran Leyva cartel controls San Pedro. Fernandez says the cartel’s leaders have lived and sold their drugs openly here for seven years. If elected mayor, Fernandez admits he won’t challenge Beltran Leyva, saying he’d be killed if he did. After the tape became public, Fernandez stood by his comments. “I am stating the reality that my city is living,” he said “I have no reason to hide it.” Monica Goddard is a young voter.

MONICA GODDARD:  Well, at least this candidate is not afraid to show the real connection between the narcos and politics. And me, as a potential voter prefer a candidate like him that shows what’s really happening.

LORNE MATALON:  A senior aide to Mexico’s Attorney General says the recording highlights the connection between the cartels and politics that the Calderon administration has pledged to sever. And the connections stretch all over the country.

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LORNE MATALON:  That’s Reginaldo Sandoval, president of the Labor Party in the State of Michoacan. He says, “It’s difficult for us to work without fear, especially those candidates with a chance to win. We’re at the mercy of the drug lords.”
Sandoval cites examples where candidates who refuse to follow cartel instructions are murdered. He himself was kidnapped and beaten after criticizing drug traffickers. He says fear is so widespread, he wouldn’t dare expose a candidate in his own party, even if that candidate was protecting the cartels.

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LORNE MATALON:  “I would not denounce the candidate,” says Sandoval. “That would put both the candidate and me in danger, and both of us would end up dead.”  Four top Beltran Leyva members are on Mexico’s most-wanted list, with two million dollar bounties on each man. The four are on the run. Yet the Beltran Leyva gang can still intimidate politicians like Mauricio Fernandez, and still move tons of cocaine into the US.  For The World, I’m Lorne Matalon in Mexico City.

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