PEDRO JOAQUIN " COLDWELL -GATE "

PEDRO JOAQUIN " COLDWELL -GATE "

In his column published in the newspaper Reforma, political scientist talks about the case of Pedro Joaquín Coldwell, Energy Secretary , who is a shareholder of companies that may benefit from the energy reform . The portal Aristegui News reprinted an excerpt of the article that Dr. Denise Dresser published Monday in the daily Reforma, entitled Coldwell -Gate and I supplemented with comments recorded during the MVS program with Carmen Aristegui . interesting:


In Mexico the conflict of interest is even conflict. It is no problem. It is of concern . Not throttling area . Just lose sleep central to the flourishing of corruption in the country . A few bothered to be an ingrained habit . Endorsed a practice . An accepted tradition . So much so that the law allows the conflict between public duty and private use occurs without penalty . So much so that in the recent case of Pedro Joaquín Coldwell, Energy Secretary his PRI colleagues angrily declare without any embarrassment , "Do not violate any law." "It's immoral." In short , as Samuel Butler wrote : " Cannibalism is moral in a country of cannibals ."

Pedro Joaquín Coldwell is the president of the Coordinating Council of the Energy Sector

In Mexico it is legal to be a legislator and trial . Is it legal to be a politician and businessman. Is it legal to be energy secretary and shareholder of companies that may benefit from the energy reform . It is legal to have 60 percent of the shares of "Cozumel Service " . Or 40 percent of " Gasoline and Services Juárez ." Or 25 percent of " Fuel San Miguel " . O 20 percent of " Caleta Fuels Services " . Is "moral " recognize and do nothing to change a lawfully admitted ethically unacceptable situation, but it hurts the country to allow its officials milked it . A situation that arises when a public official promoting and defending private interests , like his family.




But instead of legislating to close gaps, the PRI gives arguments to defend its existence. As stated Emilio Gamboa faultless " is not fooling anyone ." "He himself presented this information." " His family is into these business since 1960 ." "It takes ten minutes of your time to see those businesses that are saying it has ." I have there at PRI defending the indefensible . Protecting a culture underpinned by the law that allows anyone who comes to power use it to promote their interests ; to enhance its influence ; for contracts which are translated into pesos. The problem is not whether Pedro Joaquín Coldwell going to take advantage of a legal framework that allows manufacturing millionaires within the public service . The problem is that the legal framework persists .

The problem is that Pedro Joaquín Coldwell is the president of the Coordinating Council of the Energy Sector . He will be responsible for the selection of areas that may be subject to new contracts that allow energy reform . Will be responsible , with the advice of the National Commission of Hydrocarbons - tenders and the granting of permits . Will have on their hands inside information and decision-making power that could be used for the benefit of himself or his children . And that possibility is not enough to warn that holds shares in at least six energy companies in Quintana Roo , where he was governor. It is not enough to issue a statement in which we stated that Coldwell " has never intervened to request any benefit."

We will have to fill the gaps in the Federal Law of Administrative Responsibilities of Public Servants - today - does not require officials to reject the power of decision in any private company of which they are part. We will have to design a stronger legislation requiring transparent political class economic interests ( ... )

Article published by the newspaper Reforma