Russia Meddling in 2018 Mexican Elections?
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Phony claims about Russian interference in foreign elections keep resurfacing.
CIA director Mike Pompeo lied, claiming Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.
He lied again expressing concern about Kremlin meddling in this year’s congressional races. Months of House, Senate, and special counsel Mueller investigations found nothing because there’s nothing to find.
Nor does anything suggest Moscow intends interfering in off-year November elections.
In a video clip published by Mexico’s Reforma broadsheet, US National Security Advisor HR McMaster said Russia launched a campaign to interfere in Mexico’s July elections, saying:
“We’ve seen that this is really a sophisticated effort to polarize democratic societies and pit communities within those societies against each other,” adding:
“You’ve seen, actually, initial signs of it in the Mexican presidential campaign already” - claiming the Kremlin intends using cyber tools to spread disinformation.
He provided no evidence substantiating his baseless claim. There is none, nothing suggesting Russian interference in any foreign election - in America, Europe, Mexico or anywhere else.
On July 1, Mexican voters will elect a new president, 500 Chamber of Deputies members, and 128 senators.
According to the nation’s constitution, incumbent President Enrique Pena Nieto in ineligible for a second term.
Mexican-style democracy is enormously tainted, outcomes prearranged, generally decided before voters go to the polls.
Electoral theft was perfected in the country long ago, irregularities commonplace. As in America, candidates representing wealth and power exclusively win every time.
Elections always preserve status quo indifference to popular needs and rights, revolutionary change off-the-table.
The dominant Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and National Action Party (PAN) alone have a chance to govern.
Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) is a third option, at best a bridesmaid, never a ruling party.
Since founded in 1989, hundreds of its members were assassinated, others intimidated, the electoral court whitewashing fraud complaints when filed.
In July, dirty business as usual is assured of winning again, the way US and European elections turn out.
In 2012, Nieto “promis(ed) a government that will be modern, responsible and open to criticism,” claiming his campaign “was about...improv(ing) economic conditions for millions of struggling Mexicans” and “ending political polarization and paralysis.”
Claiming a commitment to democracy, Mexicans betrayed time and again knew better.
Established in 1929, the PRI emerged from the 1910 - 1917 Mexican Revolution. During the Great Depression, class harmony and nationalist slogans co-opted workers and campesinos. Class struggles were controlled.
Revolutionary change never came. Post-war strikes were brutally repressed. In the 1980s, greater integration into global markets occurred. A new billionaire class emerged.
Deplorable conditions affect ordinary Mexicans. Destructive NAFTA drove millions north. Drug trafficking spawned violence, thousands killed in recent years.
Elections don’t change things. New names and faces replace old ones, deplorable policies remaining the same.
PRI leaders ran Mexico from 1929 - 2000. In 2000, PAN candidate Vincente Fox ended its 70 year rule.
Both parties represent privileged interests. It doesn’t matter which one rules. One or the other will emerge triumphant in July by hook or by crook.
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