Posted by DD with material Republished from Sin Embargo, , Excelsior, and Mexican News Daily.
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| supporters wage a vigil for Humberto Moreira in Saltillo |
Long time readers of this blog know that the "Grande Dame" of Borderland Beat, Chivis, has always had an uncanny ability to analyze current events and tell us what she thinks the future outcome of those events will be. And she is usually spot on correct.
After the scandal surrounding Humberto Moreira when he resigned from his position as President of PRI in 2011, a position which had placed him as the front runner to be the successor in 2018 to Enrique Pena Nieto's presumed victory in the 2012 Presidential election, Chivis told me that Moreira was not finished as a politician and would resurface and run for office in the future.
I didn't think she was right when she told me that. After all, during Moreira's administration the state of Coahuila had increased it debt from $27 Million to $2.8 Billion in just 5 years. There were allegations of $100's of Millions of dollars missing from the state treasury. Though Mexico had not initiated any investigation of the allegations, the US initiated a more than 2 year investigation into money laundering ties to criminal of the allegedly stolen money. that resulted in 2 of his cabinet members being indicted for money laundering and one of those plead guilty and the other is still a fugitive. In his home state of Coahuila Moreira was even referred to as "Governor Z". He was on on everyone's list of the most corrupt in Mexico. I did not think he could ever recover and I expected him to wind up indicted and prosecuted.
I should have known better than to question Chivis's crystal ball.
After he was released from his 7 day prison stay in Spain last week Moreira returned to Mexico in a flourish like the "prodigal son".
Excelsior which conducted the radio interview reported that the former governor of Coahuila Humberto Moreira said he was cleared of all the accusations in Spain and Mexico against him.(DD; that is not exactly true. The investigation is ongoing in Spain. The judge released him from prison because there was insufficient evidence to continue holding him in prison without bail. The prosecutors in the case said they did not appeal the judges ruling to free him from prison because they would have to reveal evidence that would affect other aspects of the case that are secret and would affect other people. And of course there was no investigation or charges against him in Mexico). The Spanish court will decide in March whether to continue with the trial or to permanently close it.
I suspect that his close relationship with Pena Nieto may have had something to do with his obtaining his freedom from the Spanish prison. Especially if the accusations are true that part of the alleged funds missing from the Coahila treasury were used to help fund EPN's campaign for President in 2012.
The Spanish court will decide in March whether to continue with the trial or to permanently close it. - See more at: http://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/ex-governor-returns-charges-dropped/#sthash.lcxHhU7F.bUbXbM81.dpuf
He said in his interview with Excelsior in a categorical way that he is not a "thief" and has no relation to any criminal group.
To his opponents, he explained, "I will show them I'm no thief, show them I had nothing to do with regular debt, show them that there was no diversion of resources, show them that I have nothing to do with criminal groups, I will show them that I was exonerated of allegations made, I left (Spain) exonerated; I was innocent, and that they, those who accused me, did not even have the desire or intention to appeal because they knew they had no evidence to do so. " To all those who accused me I show they lied. It is true, I was on the horns of the moon as it were, but in life you have to be strong and go with the punches. "
SEE YOU AT THE POLLS
Perhaps the biggest news to come out of the interviews was his announcement of a return to politics. In a long telephone conversation with Adela Micha of Grupo Imagen Multimedia, the national ex-leader of PRI also reaffirmed that he will return to politics in his state, "slowly but surely". He now has four master's degrees and a doctorate thesis.
He cautioned his political opponents: "If you want to fight me, see you at the polls" when running for any elected office.
Sin Embargo reported that Humberto Moreira Valdés, former governor of Coahuila, said yesterday in an interview in Saltillo that if there were the possibility of re-election for governor, he would be presented to the elections.
"If I had a chance for reelection for governor, I would submit," he said.
If he were successful in a run for Governor in 2018 and he completed his term it would mean that a Moreira had been Governor of Coahila for 18 years - Humberto's first term, his brother Ruben, the current Governor, and a second six year term of Humberto.
Humberto said that with help of brother Ruben, current Governor of Coahuila, that he would find the accounting records of the state for the period of his administration and they would show he was innocent of any wrong doing. (those records were sealed by the Governor for a period from 2011 to 2019). When asked about there being a strained relationship between himself and his brother Ruben (as evidenced by Rubens failure to attend the funeral of Lalo, Humberto's son and the nephew of Ruben, after his murder in 2012 Humberto dismissed that claim by saying the relationship might appear distant simply because he kept his nose out of his brother's business of carrying out the mandate the people of Coahuila had given the Governor.
In the Excelsior interview Moreira said you can be assured that no politician in Mexico has been more reported on, more investigated and exonerated than him, and that now "everyone who was talking about (it) have to swallow their words." The soundtrack of the interview in Spanish may be heard here.
He confessed that in prison he thought about his children, his wife, "but especially to my mother in the pain caused by my being in prison."
However, he explained, "What hurt me most was the accusation of the first criminal group Los Zetas because they are the ones who killed my son and, second, because obviously I have no relationship with them, noting that the murder of his son José Eduardo Moreira has been the most terrible shock in his life.
"The second blow is to be in prison," said Moreira, but said "it's very sobering to be in prison." He described it as "life changing".
NOT ALL WELCOMED HIS RETURN.
Members of the opposition parties (opposed to PRI) alleged that Moreira's return to Mexico and his plans to return to politics was an attempt by him to seek a "cloak of Immuntiy" to avoid investigation and prosecution in Mexico.
Though his supporters in Saltillo, capital of Coahuila, were out in force to welcome his return there were also protestors. One resident of Saltillo carried a sign that said:
" . "the cannibal of Coahuila. Your management left unmarked graves, violence and misery for Coahuila. You stole the assets of Coahuila".
I've learned my lesson about Chivis and her crystal ball. Do not be surprised to see his name on the ballot for Governor in 2018. Maybe even on the ballot for President in 2024 - he will only be 57 years old then.