Mexicans Ask Right Questions

As the corruption scandals in Mexico seem to multiply by the minute, a growing number of citizens groups have transformed their anger into a well-organized demand for official accountability. This can only benefit Mexico.

Times correspondent Mary Beth Sheridan in Mexico City reports that a group called Civic Alliance went to court to find out how much President Ernesto Zedillo is paid. Sergio Aguayo, head of the alliance, says that its members are not accusing the president of any impropriety, but are simply reacting to the financial horror stories leaked by prosecutors about Raul Salinas, the brother of former President Carlos Salinas de Gortari. Raul Salinas was apparently able to amass a fortune that runs into hundreds of millions of dollars through his political connections.

According to reports in the Mexican press, he was involved in partnerships with prominent businessmen and journalists and may have used, directly or indirectly, his connection to the presidency itself as a powerful bargaining tool for a piece of the action in big-money deals.

If that was the case, Mexicans ask, how was it possible? Mexicans know that corruption was not invented by the Salinas administration but has been a defining factor of the Mexican political system throughout its history; they are determined to put an end to it.

The question for Civic Alliance and similar groups is how to bring accountability into a political system that has never had to explain to anyone what it does, nor how. By seeking information on the presidency through the courts, the alliance sought to send a signal that all Mexican officials must be accountable to the people. Using the constitutional right to petition officials for information, they have asked the president’s office not only how much the president earns in salary, but in bonuses, incentives, compensations, etc. as well. The group also wants to know the amount of the presidential office budget and why Zedillo reportedly has nearly $90 million in a secret fund. They also ask why bonuses to government officials in the presidential budget amount to three times the budget for the assistance program for the poor.

Alianza Civica is asking the right questions. Mexican citizens are waiting for answers.