 |
|
|
 News Around the Republic of Mexico | May 2005 
Congress Calls For Electoral Investigation
 Lourdes Martínez Pérez - El Universal
| | On Monday, Interior Secretary Santiago Creel called the electoral scandal in Mexico State a "stain." (Photo: Notimex) |
Mexico City - Amid growing controversy in the run-up to the State of Mexico gubernatorial elections, Congress on Monday ordered an investigation into allegations of kickbacks being handed out to state electoral officials.
The lower house called on a congressional committee to carry out an audit into the State of Mexico Electoral Institute (IEEM), after a lawmaker brought to light last week a meeting with electoral officials who discussed accepting a bribe.
Interior Secretary Santiago Creel issued a stern statement concerning the scandal, promising that the electoral process in the State of Mexico would not tolerate "any jokes, nor lame excuses" concerning its legitimacy. He added that the recent revelations were a "stain on the democratic process, and a hindrance to the advancement of democracy in this country."
Tensions have been running high since Ricardo Monreal, former governor of Zacatecas and the Party of the Democratic Revolution's (PRD) representative before the IEEM, revealed to the media the bribe allegations last Wednesday.
Monreal said that during a meeting in March electoral officials discussed accepting millions of pesos in kickbacks from a local company in exchange for a contract to provide ballot boxes. IEEM officials responded to the allegations by claiming they were only making a "joke."
State of Mexico gubernatorial elections are to be held on July 3. |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us