MEXICO.- Felipe Calderon will be written into history books as the president who walked the hard line against organized crime in Mexico at the cost of eighty thousand deaths and disappearances. And now, in addition to his handsome ex-President salary, he may also receive additional money from the public coffers if the National Electoral Institute (INE) approves a new political party that reportedly has many ties to members of Felipe Calderon's family.

On July 9th, the INE gave the green light to the creation of the "National Humanist Party" which will officially get started on August 1st. Many national news outlets are claiming that in addition to the former president, his wife Margarita Zavala, and other direct members of his family, and friends will form the new party, although this has been refuted by the Institution's official Facebook page which has garnered 3,000 likes. No public comment has been issued by the former president or his wife.

To the naked eye it doesn't appear as though Calderon or his families represent this movement, but if you read between the lines it becomes a little clearer that this may be the case. The future "Humanist Party" is comprised of three leaders: Ignacio Irys Salomon, Ricardo Pinacho Ruiz, and Javier Lopez Macias. The last name is the one that sticks out the most.

Lopez Macias was the director of the National Union of Integrated Solidarity Organizations and Social Economics (UNIMOSS). This organization supported Felipe Calderon's presidential campaign, and upon his election, this group received more than 262 million pesos during his 2006-2012 term.

Is this a case of "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours?" Now that the PAN has elected Gustavo Madero as its national leader once again, one could say that Calderon and his family's aspirations of nabbing that title are down the drain. Ernesto Cordero, who competed with Madero for leadership, also supported the faction of the party that supported Calderon's ideology. Without any other responsibilities, Calderon might have focused his sight on the Humanist Party.

The Institute's page explains that it is seeking to form a grassroots party, and organizations that benefit the citizenry. They indicated that they legally established the Civil Association entitled "National Humanist Front", in order to expeditiously apply with the National Electoral Institute as required, and that on February 12th this authority confirmed that they could get started with activities required to form the party. Now they have obtained authority from the National Electoral Institute and are an official party.

At the end of Calderon's term, as a former President, he will receive a salary of $225 thousand pesos each month for the rest of his life,in addition to a life insurance policy worth eight million pesos, health insurance for him and his family, bonuses equaling $43,000 pesos, sixty-seven military and marine officers for his protection, and twenty-three administrative employees whose salary is paid for by the public coffers.

Brenda.Colon@sandiegored.com

borderzonie@gmail.com