By RICARDO CASTILLO Although only one out of seven new applications for registration as a political party was accepted last Friday, Sept. 5, by Mexico’s National Electoral Institute (INE), that does not mean the quest for registration is over for those dissatisfied with the decision. The only party admitted for registration was the Solidary Encounter Party (PES). Three of the
Read more
By RICARDO CASTILLO Covid-19, Imported From Italy Mexican Public Health Undersecretary Hugo López-Gatell informed the public on Sunday, March 1, that there are now five confirmed cases of Covid-19 (also known as novel coronavirus), plus 11 suspected cases. Hence, he said, the nation is not in a state of emergency. López-Gatell said that the outbreak of the virus in Mexico
Read more
By RICARDO CASTILLO There are two ways of looking at Mexico’s 2021 midterm elections: On the one hand, there will be the anticipated participation of the country’s seven existing political parties. On the other, there are still-undetermined organizations seeking registration with the National Electoral Institute (INE), and it is not clear whether they will get in or not. According to
Read more
By RICARDO CASTILLO Mexican education workers nationwide commemorated Teachers’ Day (Día del Maestros) in many different manners on Wednesday, May15, not excluding expressing their dissatisfaction with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s (AMLO) new education reform, which was fully approved by Congress during the day. AMLO said he’d sign the law immediately so it can be published on Thursday, May 16,
Read more
By RICARDO CASTILLO Every May 15, Mexico commemorates Teachers’ Day. But the festivities – celebrated at every school – public or private – by the millions of students, parents, labor unions, communities and government branches, who pamper teachers that day (even if it is just once a year), may turn out in 2019 to be different from what we’ve had
Read more
By RICARDO CASTILLO Suddenly – but not unexpectedly – the once-powerful National Education Workers Union (SNTE) leader Elba Esther Gordillo is back on track to regain the presidency of Mexico’s two-million-member-strong union, the largest in all Latin America. During the administration of former Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto (2012-2018), Gordillo was thrown in the slammer on several charges, including embezzlement
Read more
By RICARDO CASTILLO Everyone was expecting a second upstaging of Mexican President-elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador by the former teachers’ union leader Elba Esther Gordillo on Sunday, Aug. 19, and Monday, Aug. 20. The first upstaging came on Aug. 8, when Elba Esther was exonerated by a judge of all charges that had kept her a prisoner in a federal
Read more
By RICARDO CASTILLO Two events on Wednesday, Aug. 8, stood out on the Mexican political landscape. One was expected, but the second one was not. To clear things up quickly, the expected event was when Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) finally got the official recognition from the Federal Electoral Court as president-elect- No surprise there. The unexpected event happened at 1:30 a.m. – nearly 12 hours before
Read more
By RICARDO CASTILLO A major theme among candidates in the ongoing Mexican presidential electoral campaign is the huge political squabble over education. And it seems only natural that education be the top topic of discussion since today Mexico celebrates the 100th anniversary of the declaration of Teachers’ Day or “Día del Maestro.” It was conceived during the drafting of the historic 1917
Read more