Government Hands Out Free Digital TVs to Mexican Voters in Welfare Programs Murry Page - The Mazatlan Messenger
go to original December 8, 2014

Mexico’s government is handing out 13 million digital television sets free to poor Mexicans enrolled in federal welfare programs. The TV handout is part of a telecommunications reform package passed by México’s congress in July.

But critics of the program say it is a blatant electioneering ploy, one that reminds people of the “old days” of client-state handouts under the currently ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).

The critics note that more than half of the TVs are being distributed before or during the summer 2015 mid-term election season, in which Mexicans will vote on nine governors, 500 legislators, and 718 leaders of municipalities.

All Mexican parties are known for handing out gifts for political ends. However, the PRI has been particularly linked to the practice, despite its efforts to present itself as a “new” party since the 2012 election of Enrique Peña Nieto.

Read the rest at The Mazatlan Messenger

Photo: Fox News

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!