A ‘Juanito’ postscript in Mexico City

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A final (we think) note on the “Juanito” drama in Mexico City: The city’s most populous borough will be run by his rival, Clara Brugada, after all.

Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard today named Brugada to head working-class Iztapalapa after “Juanito,” whose real name is Rafael Acosta, quit Thursday. The Mexico City legislature quickly ratified the nomination.

Brugada, you may remember, had been in charge of Iztapalapa just last week, when Acosta came off a two-month leave of absence and decided to keep the job himself. Jousting between the two has riveted the capital since July, when Acosta, a headband-wearing street vendor, was elected to the job through a political maneuver in which he agreed to step down in favor of Brugada.

Acosta took the leave to fulfill his end of the deal, but changed his mind and retook his post last week rather than step down for good. Brugada, a member of the Democratic Revolution Party, appealed for help from the legislature, which her party dominates.

Before lawmakers could act, though, Acosta resigned, facing allegations that he presented a falsified birth certificate when he filed papers to run.

In the end, the electoral maneuver carried the day.

-- Ken Ellingwood in Mexico City