Francisco Luna Kan
Encyclopedia
Dr. Francisco Epigmenio Luna Kan (born December 3, 1925) is a Mexican
politician
. Francisco Luna Kan was governor
of the state of Yucatán
from 1976 to 1982.
Born in Mérida, Yucatán
, he was a practicing doctor of medicine
then taught as a Professor of Medicine before his political offices, his first being overseer of the state's rural medical system.
Francisco Luna Kan was the first person of pure Maya ancestry to govern Yucatán since the Spanish conquest of Yucatán
. (In the early 1920s, Felipe Carrillo Puerto
, who was partly Maya, had been governor.) For centuries the political elite had been Criollos
(Yucatecans of pure Hispanic
ancestry). It was widely said that party officials of Mexico's ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party
(PRI) took the unusual step of selecting a person of Maya descent as their candidate in 1975 because the opposition National Action Party
had been getting many votes in Yucatán, and PRI candidates had been getting a poor showing in the state's predominantly Maya towns and villages. It was said that PAN got the majority of votes in the previous governor's race, and the PRI managed to maintain control of the state only through fraud in counting votes.
Shortly after his election Luna Kan was subjected to an unpleasant incident while taking a train to Mexico City
for a governmental conference. Luna Kan was thrown off the train, as the railroad conductors thought it inconceivable that this short man of obvious Native American
features was telling the truth when he claimed to be a state governor.
After his term as governor Luna Kan resigned from the PRI and joined the Party of the Democratic Revolution
(PRD). He unsuccessfully ran as that party's candidate for mayor
of Mérida in 1998. Francisco Luna Kan holds a seat in Mexico's Chamber of Deputies of Mexico
as a PRD deputy for Yucatán.
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
. Francisco Luna Kan was governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of the state of Yucatán
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
from 1976 to 1982.
Born in Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida, Yucatán
Mérida is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Yucatán and the Yucatán Peninsula. It is located in the northwest part of the state, about from the Gulf of Mexico coast...
, he was a practicing doctor of medicine
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
then taught as a Professor of Medicine before his political offices, his first being overseer of the state's rural medical system.
Francisco Luna Kan was the first person of pure Maya ancestry to govern Yucatán since the Spanish conquest of Yucatán
Spanish conquest of Yucatán
The Spanish conquest of Yucatán was the campaign undertaken by the Spanish conquistadores against the Late Postclassic Maya states and polities, particularly in the northern and central Yucatán Peninsula but also involving the Maya polities of the Guatemalan highlands region...
. (In the early 1920s, Felipe Carrillo Puerto
Felipe Carrillo Puerto
Felipe Carrillo Puerto was a Governor of the Mexican state of Yucatán. He was born in the town of Motul, Yucatán, and was of partly indigenous Mayan background; he was rumored to be a descendant of the Nachi Cocom dynasty of Mayapan. He was a socialist who favored land reform, women's suffrage,...
, who was partly Maya, had been governor.) For centuries the political elite had been Criollos
Criollo (people)
The Criollo class ranked below that of the Iberian Peninsulares, the high-born permanent residence colonists born in Spain. But Criollos were higher status/rank than all other castes—people of mixed descent, Amerindians, and enslaved Africans...
(Yucatecans of pure Hispanic
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
ancestry). It was widely said that party officials of Mexico's ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party
Institutional Revolutionary Party
The Institutional Revolutionary Party is a Mexican political party that held power in the country—under a succession of names—for more than 70 years. The PRI is a member of the Socialist International, as is the rival Party of the Democratic Revolution , making Mexico one of the few...
(PRI) took the unusual step of selecting a person of Maya descent as their candidate in 1975 because the opposition National Action Party
National Action Party (Mexico)
The National Action Party , is one of the three main political parties in Mexico. The party's political platform is generally considered Centre-Right in the Mexican political spectrum. Since 2000, the President of Mexico has been a member of this party; both houses have PAN pluralities, but the...
had been getting many votes in Yucatán, and PRI candidates had been getting a poor showing in the state's predominantly Maya towns and villages. It was said that PAN got the majority of votes in the previous governor's race, and the PRI managed to maintain control of the state only through fraud in counting votes.
Shortly after his election Luna Kan was subjected to an unpleasant incident while taking a train to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
for a governmental conference. Luna Kan was thrown off the train, as the railroad conductors thought it inconceivable that this short man of obvious Native American
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
features was telling the truth when he claimed to be a state governor.
After his term as governor Luna Kan resigned from the PRI and joined the Party of the Democratic Revolution
Party of the Democratic Revolution
The Party of the Democratic Revolution is a democratic socialist party in Mexico and one of 2 Mexican affiliates of the Socialist International...
(PRD). He unsuccessfully ran as that party's candidate for mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Mérida in 1998. Francisco Luna Kan holds a seat in Mexico's Chamber of Deputies of Mexico
Chamber of Deputies of Mexico
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Congress of the Union, Mexico's bicameral legislature. The structure and responsibilities of both chambers of Congress are defined in Articles 50 to 70 of the current constitution.-Composition:The Chamber of Deputies is composed of one federal...
as a PRD deputy for Yucatán.