Mexico Weekly Political Blotter, Sep 11,15, 2023: UAP Testimony, Prosecutor Killings, and MORENA Election Disputes

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| MRN:       | 23 MEXICO 2544                                  |
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| Date/DTG:  | Sep 16, 2023 / 160150Z SEP 23                   |
| From:      | AMEMBASSY MEXICO                                |
| Action:    | WASHDC, SECSTATE Routine                        |
| E.O:       | 13526                                           |
| TAGS:      | PGOV, PREL, ASEC, TSPA, KJUS, KCRM, MX          |
| Captions:  | SENSITIVE                                       |
| Reference: | A)  23 MEXICO 2468                              |
| Reference: | B) 23 ME XI CO 21 66                            |
| Reference: | C) 23 MEXICO 2346                               |
| Subject:   | (U) Mexico: Weekly Political Blotter, Sep 11-15 |

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## (SBU) Ebrard Challenges MORENA Election, Threatens to Leave Party (cont.)

process, alleging irregularities. OnSeptember 10, Sonora Governor and MORENA National Council President Alfonso Durazo formally certified theresultsof the party's selection process; while Durazo indicated he would continue to examine Ebrard's complaints, he also indicated he did not assessthat the end results would change in light of Ebrard's allegations. Ebrard said he expected the MORENAHonesty and Justice Committee (responsible forsolving intra-party conflicts) to hear his challenge, but also added he would "not be interested in remaining in MORENA" if theparty rejected his allegations. Heannounced he would travel across the country starting September 18 tomeet with supporters and formalize the creation of a new national political movement. Some outlets reported Ebrard created a new political party, but electoral laws would not allow this until 2026.

## (SBU) Ebrard Challenges MORENA Election, Threatens to Leave Party (cont.)

3. (SBU) Comment: Having moved on from its contender selection process, MORENA is unlikely to validate any of Ebrard's challenges and therefore his options seem limited: he could join Citizen's Movement (MC) as its presidential candidate (despite some strong opposition within MC, especially from the party's Jalisco wing), remain with and create a new "Ebrardista current" within MORENA, or join the opposition Broad Front alliance. He cannot form a new party in time for the June 2024 elections, and the last day to register as an independent candidate (September 8) came and went without his taking action. His latest statements and attacks on MORENA's leadership however, increasingly make it impossible for him to remain in the party: the party has certified Sheinbaum as its candidate, Sheinbaum has embarked on a nationwide tour, and there is no sign whatsoever that there will be a do-over of the poll, as Ebrard desires. Ebrard retains the support of dozens of MORENA and allied party legislators, but even they seem reluctant to leave the party, which limits his leverage. End comment.

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exampletheauditing commission, tasked withreviewing party expenditures), the pro-MORENAbloc still does not have a majority in them. Notably, the complaints committee (tasked withanalyzing electoral violations and which previously had a pro-MO RENAmajority)now hasan anti-MORENA majority.

## (SBU) Mexico City Security Secretary Steps Down, Might Run for Head of Government

5. ~ After expressing interest in a possible run forMexico City head of government last week (ref A), Mexico City Security Secretary Omar Garcia Harfuch resigned September 9, saying in a video he would "collaborate withClaudia Sheinbaum, who withher vision and leadership will give continuity to the country's transformation." Mexico City's constitution requires officials with a role in police forces to step down before the electoral process begins (September 10) if they intend torunfor public office in thecity. Garcia Harfuch leads potential MORENAand opposition candidates in almost every poll.

## fS8t:liPablo Vazquez Becomes Mexico City's New  Security Secretary

6. ~ Mexico City Head of GovernmentMartiBatres announced September 9 Under Secretary of Citizen Participation and Crime Prevention Pablo Vazquez Camacho would replace Garcia Harfuch asSecurity Secretary. Vazquez has workedfour yearsforMexico City's Secretariat of Citizen Security (SSC). In his roleas Under Secretary, Vazquez implemented and coordinated violence preventionand reintegration programs, including the"Cease Fire" program to reduce gun violence and homicides and the"Reconnect" program to prevent recidivism in first timecriminal offenders, according to media outlets Milenioand LaSilla Rota. Prior to SSC, Vazquez worked for the federal Security Secretariat (SSPC) and in thethen-Prosecutor'sGeneral Office. Outside of government, he hasbeen a guest criminology professor at theNational Institute of Criminal Sciences in Mexico City. Vazquez hasa bachelor'sdegree in international relations from theMexico Autonomous Institute of Technology and a master's degree in criminology from theLondon School of Economics and Political Science, according to press reports. LaSilla Rota reported Vazquez also studied organized crime in Sicily and Macedonia.

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## (SBU) Former MORENA Senate Leader Ricardo Monreal Will Not Run for Mexico City Head of Government

7. ~ After finishing last in theMORENApresidential contender selection process and after Omar Garcia Harfuch's resignation and potential entry to the Mexico City head of government race, formerMORENASenate Leader Ricardo Monreal announced September 12 he would not run for Mexico City head of government. Predicting the candidate selection would come down to either Garcia Harfuch or lztapalapa Mayor Clara Brugada and noting he had no chance of winning theMORENAnod, Monreal said he did not want to cause divisions within theparty. Ina series of interviews, Monreal also said he had no interest in servingasa cabinet member in a potential Sheinbaum administration and would now focus on teaching, writing, and "hop[ing] for better times." Yet on the same day Sheinbaum announced Monreal asher campaign's organization and territorial coordinator, and former Interior Secretary Adan Augusto Lopez asher political coordinator.

## (SBU) Former MORENA Senate Leader Ricardo Monreal Will Not Run for Mexico City Head of Government (cont.)

8. (SBU) Comment: Monreal went from being one of the most powerful figures in the ruling coalition to an outcast in only a few years, mostly because of his open disagreements with Lopez Obrador. His addition to Sheinbaum's campaign despite having a close relationship with her shows he is willing to collaborate, although likely in exchange for positions for his close advisors. On September 12, media reported Monreal's daughter would run for mayor of Cuauhtemoc, the Mexico City borough where Monreal served 2015-2018. Meanwhile current mayor of Cuauhtemoc Sandra Cuevas (PRD), who reportedly also has close ties with Monreal, is trying to secure the opposition's candidacy for Mexico City head of government. End comment.

## ~  Criminals Targeting and Killing Prosecutors in Guerrero

9. (SBU) Criminals killed two Guerrero prosecutors within a week's time mid- September following attacks against two other prosecutors in July (ref B) and August. Criminals assassinated the state delegate of the Federal Attorney General's Office (FGR) in Guerrero, Fernando Garcia Fernandez, while he drove his vehicle to his office in Chilpancingo September 12. First reports noted armed men appeared to coordinate the attack as they shot at Garcia from two vehicles. In addition, criminals kidnapped from his home and then killed the

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recently appointed Guerrero state attorney general's office (FGE)regional prosecutor for theTierra Caliente region, Victor Manuel SalasCuadras, in Coyuca de Catalan September 9, according to Proceso. Security officials found Salas' body withapproximately 50 gunshot wounds. Ina separate late August incident, media reported 20 armed commandos kidnapped Patricia Jacqueline Salgado, recently appointedashead FGEprosecutor in Coyuca de Catalan. Authorities later located Salgado alive but have made no arrests thus far. Interior Secretary Luisa Maria Alcaldesaid duringthe September 11presidential press conference there was a patternof attacks against prosecutors in Guerrero in recent months, which was related to recent law enforcement arrests and seizures.

## (SBU) Guadalajara Mayor Launches Gubernatorial Campaign

10.f5i:H::li Guadalajara Mayor Pablo Lemus (MC) launched his campaign for Jalisco governor during his second annual mayoral address on September 12. "Iwant to askforyour support tobuild a social and collective project," Lemus announced. Hecalledforparty unity, and specifically welcomed MC national coordinator Dante Delgado's representative despite therift that emerged in August between Jalisco MC and thenational party (ref C). Jalisco Governor Enrique Alfaro, Nuevo Leon Governor Samuel Garcia, Monterrey Mayor Luis Donaldo Colosio, and other MC leaders from Jalisco and Nuevo Leon (the two states MC governs) all attended the event. Lemus highlighted the presenceof former Jalisco Governor Emilio Gonzalez (National Action Party - PAN) and University of Guadalajara (UdeG) Rector Ricardo Villanueva (Hagamos,affiliatedwithUdeG). Polls show Lemus holds a commanding lead over rivals from across thepolitical spectrum.

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thehearing, Graves lamented the display tookaway from his and other pilots' experienceswithUAPand expressed disappointment withMau ssan's "unsubstantiated stunt." Scientists have discredited previous alleged alien corpses Maussan presented asevidenceof alien life.

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## (U) Mexican Congress Hears Testimony on Alien Life (cont.)

| Released By:   | MEXICO:Moreno, Sergio A                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
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| Info:          | NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC Routine;WHITE HOUSE<br />OFC OF THE VICE PRESIDENT WASHINGTON DC Routine;DNI<br />WASHINGTON DC Routine;  CIA  WASHINGTON DC Routine;DIA<br />WASHINGTON DC Routine;HQ USNORTHCOM Routine;  DEPT  OF <br />HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DCRoutine;DEPT OF  JUSTICE <br />WASHINGTON DC Routine;HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL Routine;WESTERN<br />HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS Routine;ALLUS CONSULATES IN<br />MEXICO COLLECTIVE Routine |
| XMT:           | CARACAS,AMEMBASSY                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |

## (U) Mexican Congress Hears Testimony on Alien Life (cont.)

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