Presidency Moves to Tame Graft-Tarnished States of Veracruz and Quintana Roo Lizbeth Diaz - Reuters
go to original July 11, 2016

Accused by critics of misusing public funds and failing to tackle rampant impunity, departing Veracruz Governor Javier Duarte's six-year term has been notorious for the killings of journalists and violent crime. Duarte has denied any wrongdoing. (AP/Marco Ugarte)

Mexico's presidency on Monday moved against two state governments, saying they had flouted federal anti-corruption laws, setting the scene for a possible conflict with two outgoing governors tarnished by graft accusations.

President Enrique Pena Nieto's office dubbed unconstitutional new state prosecutors' offices set up in oil-rich Veracruz and tourist hub Quintana RooVeracruz and tourist hub Quintana Roo, bodies perceived by critics to be aimed at shielding the two governors. It called on the Supreme Court to rule against the measures.

Economists and financial sector professionals regularly cite impunity and weak rule of law as a major concern for investors in Mexican assets.

U.S. indictments are outstanding against at least three former governors from the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, but no formal proceedings have been opened against them in Mexico so far.

Salvador Silva, a senior official at the attorney general's office, said both states needed to wait for the roll-out of a federal government anti-corruption reform, rather than legislate individual measures.

"(The anti-corruption reform) is aimed at creating mechanisms which slam the brakes on abuse of power," Silva told a news conference.

Read the rest at Reuters

Related: Mexico Prosectors Seek to Block Legal Shields for Outgoing Governors (The Wall Street Journal)

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