Pemexgate
Encyclopedia
Pemexgate was a political scandal of the Mexican political party PRI that occurred during the presidency of Ernesto Zedillo
(1994-2000) and was discovered and investigated during the presidency of Vicente Fox
(2000-2006).
, the national oil company, was very corrupt because it was a monopoly, had no stock holders, a powerful union, and a complex structure that was hidden from the general public.
In 2001 it was discovered that funds from the workers union of PEMEX had been illegally directed to support the campaign of Francisco Labastida, the presidential candidate for the Institutional Revolutionary Party
in the year 2000. Those thought responsible were not convicted although the party was fined $1,000 million (about USD $90 million). The press gave it the name 'Pemexgate', a portmanteau of PEMEX and Watergate
.
or organized delinquency. Because of this, many people were declared innocent but some of them where declared responsible for electoral fraud and illegal exercise of the public trust.
Executives from PEMEX who were declared innocent: Rogelio Montemayor (ex director of the administrative corporative), Carlos Juaristi Septien (ex director of the financial corporative), and Julio Pindter Gonzalez (subdirector of labor relations).
From the union, three men were declared innocent of money laundering and organized delinquency, but they were accused of electoral fraud
and illegal exercise of the public trust: Carlos Romero Deschamps (leader of the union), Ricardo Aldana (union member), Jesus Olvera Mendez (union member).
From the PRI, four men were declared innocent from money laundering and organized delinquency, but they were accused of electoral fraud. It is important to mention that they were collaborators (directly involved in the campaign) of Francisco Labastida. They were: Carlos Aldama (ex secretary of elections), Jorge Cárdenas Elizondo (ex secretary of financial department), Alonso Bretón Figueroa (sub secretary of financial department), and Joel Hortiales Pacheco (ex technical secretary of financial department).
Ernesto Zedillo
Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León is a Mexican economist and politician. He served as President of Mexico from December 1, 1994 to November 30, 2000, as the last of the uninterrupted seventy year line of Mexican presidents from the Institutional Revolutionary Party...
(1994-2000) and was discovered and investigated during the presidency of Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox
Vicente Fox Quesada is a Mexican former politician who served as President of Mexico from 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2006 and currently serves as co-President of the Centrist Democrat International, an international organization of Christian democratic political parties.Fox was elected...
(2000-2006).
Event
During the PRI years the administrative environment of PEMEXPemex
Petróleos Mexicanos or Pemex is a Mexican state-owned petroleum company. As of 2010, with a total asset worth of $415.75 billion, it is the second non-publicly listed largest company in the world by total market value, and Latin America's second largest enterprise by annual revenue as of 2009...
, the national oil company, was very corrupt because it was a monopoly, had no stock holders, a powerful union, and a complex structure that was hidden from the general public.
In 2001 it was discovered that funds from the workers union of PEMEX had been illegally directed to support the campaign of Francisco Labastida, the presidential candidate for the 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...
in the year 2000. Those thought responsible were not convicted although the party was fined $1,000 million (about USD $90 million). The press gave it the name 'Pemexgate', a portmanteau of PEMEX and Watergate
Watergate scandal
The Watergate scandal was a political scandal during the 1970s in the United States resulting from the break-in of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate office complex in Washington, D.C., and the Nixon administration's attempted cover-up of its involvement...
.
Investigations
In 2001, investigations started and after a long process, the government declared that Pemexgate was not a matter of money launderingMoney laundering
Money laundering is the process of disguising illegal sources of money so that it looks like it came from legal sources. The methods by which money may be laundered are varied and can range in sophistication. Many regulatory and governmental authorities quote estimates each year for the amount...
or organized delinquency. Because of this, many people were declared innocent but some of them where declared responsible for electoral fraud and illegal exercise of the public trust.
Executives from PEMEX who were declared innocent: Rogelio Montemayor (ex director of the administrative corporative), Carlos Juaristi Septien (ex director of the financial corporative), and Julio Pindter Gonzalez (subdirector of labor relations).
From the union, three men were declared innocent of money laundering and organized delinquency, but they were accused of electoral fraud
Electoral fraud
Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an election. Acts of fraud affect vote counts to bring about an election result, whether by increasing the vote share of the favored candidate, depressing the vote share of the rival candidates or both...
and illegal exercise of the public trust: Carlos Romero Deschamps (leader of the union), Ricardo Aldana (union member), Jesus Olvera Mendez (union member).
From the PRI, four men were declared innocent from money laundering and organized delinquency, but they were accused of electoral fraud. It is important to mention that they were collaborators (directly involved in the campaign) of Francisco Labastida. They were: Carlos Aldama (ex secretary of elections), Jorge Cárdenas Elizondo (ex secretary of financial department), Alonso Bretón Figueroa (sub secretary of financial department), and Joel Hortiales Pacheco (ex technical secretary of financial department).
Sources
- http://www.thefreelibrary.com/On+the+run%3B+haughty+evasion+of+justice+by+central+Pemexgate+figure...-a0111274431