MEXICO CITY: IT AIN’T OVER ‘TIL IT’S OVER

[Joanne98]

MEXICO CITY: IT AIN’T OVER ‘TIL IT’S OVER
Published by Greg Palast July 10th, 2006 in Articles
By Matt Pascarella


While much of the world believes Felipe Calderon has been officially declared Mexico’s next President, it is not true. At least not yet.

(Mexico City) Last week the Electoral Commission, IFE, announced the results of a country-wide count of tally sheets - sheets that are attached to each ballot box - they found that Felipe Calderon (PAN) was ahead of Lopez Obrador (PRD) by around 0.5%. To Calderon, there is no question that he is the winner. But according to Lopez Obrador, he has won more votes.

TRIFE not IFE

Despite what both Calderon and Lopez Obrador tell their supporters and what you read in press reports, the next President has yet to be officially declared. IFE is not the body responsible for officially announcing the next President. Rather, it is TRIFE (Electoral Tribunal) that will make an official announcement by early September, after addressing complaints filed by each party. The parties have four days to file their objections following the results of the tally sheet count — which was concluded last Thursday.


Last night, the PRD, Lopez Obrador’s party, delivered their official complaint to the tribunal.

TRIFE, a supposedly non-partisan, independent body, has the responsibility to examine irregularities brought forth to them. TRIFE, will therefore, have to consider facts such as:

- Why hundreds of thousands of ballots have yet to be included in any count;

- Why ballots have been found, literally, in the trash;

- Why there was a massive amount of “drop-off”, i.e. where people showed up to vote but did not cast a vote for president;

- Why, on Election Day, Casilla workers in places like Queretaro and Salamanca were caught on video, stuffing ballot boxes and changing tally sheets.

- The use and role of public expenditures on Calderon’s campaign;

- The intervention of the current President, Vicente Fox (a member of PAN), which benefitted Calderon, during the campaign, and which is illegal according to the Electoral Commission’s rules.

Other allegations include:

- A recording of a telephone call between members of PRI (the dominant party in Mexico up until 2000) and members of PAN — which indicates they struck an alliance on Election Day when the results began filtering in, showing PRI was falling way behind.

- Evidence of Hilldebrand’s involvement in compiling voter lists to annul certain voters, as well as manipulation of the PREP, the preliminary election reporting program. (Hilldebrand, a company founded by Calderon’s brother-in-law, was, reportedly, hired by IFE to create the vote tallying software used in the PREP.)


http://www.gregpalast.com/it-aint-over-til-its-over#more-1449

[OrangeCountyDemocrat]

1. Obrador Is A Cry Baby

Why can't he behave like John Kerry, and just concede already. Why does he insist on "having the backs" of his supporters.

This is certainly going to hurt his chances if he decides to run again in the future.

:sarcasm:

[Ghost Dog]

2. It requires intelligence and cojones. n/t

[Joanne98]

3. We have to remember to get a pledge from our 2008 candidate

NEVER STEP DOWN.

[Adelante]

4. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?

The school teacher in Guanajuato (we know how rich school teachers are in Mexico, right? - they make maybe $200 a MONTH) has been vilified and ridiculed - the so-called man in blue - he is the laughing stock of his small town thanks to this ridiculous video being splashed all over the world. The PRD observer at that casilla is accused of being bought off by the PAN, because she won't say it was ballot-stuffing just to please AMLO and all of you - now this is an AMLO supporter, but that hasn't protected her, has it? People who did their duty to their country, ordinary citizens, are having their reputations ruined. I hope they sue the shit out of AMLO for this irresponsible behavior. He has offered NO proof that video implies ballot-stuffing, he just says so. And all of you are taking this unsubstantiated bullshit as gospel. Where is the healthy skepticism that used to be the standard at DU? Where is the sense of fair play? This is fucking sickening. You're all so desperate for a stolen election in Mexico, you're ready to let somebody make one up if that's what it takes. If there is, there is, and it should be brought out and the vote should be recounted, in the COURT, but at least have the courtesy and the decency to let the evidence be proven before you convict.

http://elecciones.jornada.com.mx/rechazan-acusaciones-de-amlo-perredistas-de-cerro-gordo/

[Ghost Dog]

6. You're right. The available evidence has to be weighed,

measured, verified very carefully. And ordinary people should not get hurt in the process.

We all know how small-minded the yanquis tend to be with their sound-bite, video-clip, dumbed-down TV culture. They, generally, don't care how much damage they do, as long as it's not to ME, ME, big consumer ME!

Y... ¿La Verdad? (The Truth?) ¿Donde está? (Where is it?)

[1932]

11. Are you guilty of what you're accusing others of doing? "I hope they sue

the shit out of Obrador"??

[helderheid]

5. recommended!

[bluestateguy]

7. I'll keep my hopes up

But I can't say that I'm optimistic.

[Generator]

8. Ya know

If Americans would have been in the streets en masse in 2000 or CERTAINLY 2004 and still have "lost" to the thug Bush machine I would STILL feel oceanss better than I do today. Doing shit and feeling like your Democracy ended with a whimper instead of a bang eats your insides. To the degree that I will never ever ever feel good about voting for president again. Even looking at a local election ballot depressed me. Yes, I will vote but I will never believe in Democracy in America again.

!Vamos Mexico!

[katfish]

9. Mexico - Election

Damn damn scary,

[newyawker99]

10. Hi katfish!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: