Pena Nieto Can't Shake Cronyism Doubts After Probe Into Home Scandal Eric Martin and Brendan Case - Bloomberg
go to original August 24, 2015

Virgilio Andrade, Mexico's public comptroller, center, is flanked by deputy comptrollers Javier Vargas, left, and Raul Sanchez Kobashi, while speaking during a news conference in Mexico City. (Susana Gonzalez/Bloomberg)

Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto last week was cleared of wrongdoing in a six-month investigation of whether his government improperly awarded construction contracts, a development that should have been good news.

Yet because the probe was led by an auditor who Pena Nieto appointed, and who reports to him, it did little to quiet critics or quell concern about favoritism to preferred business partners by his administration.

Ricardo Anaya, head of the National Action Party, Mexico’s largest opposition bloc, called the conclusion an “offensive joke.” The Democratic Revolutionary Party, the third-largest group, said the verdict “lacks credibility, is unacceptable, inadequate and biased,” and urged congress to probe the purchase of homes that Pena Nieto, Finance Minister Luis Videgaray and First Lady Angelica Rivera bought from government contractors.

Check out some of the reasons critics remained unsatisfied with Public Comptroller Virgilio Andrade’s report at Bloomberg.

Related: Mexicans Outraged — But Not Surprised — After Crony Clears President in 'White House' Scandal (VICE 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!