In a recent New York Times interview, Mexican president Felipe Caldron made a comment that has sparked a controversy with the PRI, the party that ruled Mexico until the year 2000 and is a favorite in the upcoming 2012 election, and which has been critical of Caldron's handling of the drug war. In the interview, Caldron suggested that the party might make deals with drug gangs if it returns to power. While Caldron's comments have been called "absurd," the PRI does have a history of making alleged deals with these gangs while in power in the past; however, it has denied that these accusations were true. Caldron's comment that they may make secret deals has met severe opposition and anger from Carlos Jimenez Macias, the PRI's spokesperson, who called the comment "irresponsible" and said that it was likely just "electioneering."
While Caldron's decision to deploy military troops to fight the drug cartels has been widely criticized, he still believes that Mexico can triumph in the drug war, and that he will be remembered "'as the president who dared to take on the criminals.'" Although he cannot run for re-election, Caldron clearly opposes the possible election of a PRI candidate.
Maci Mitchell
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