Flu spreads to politics
It was only a matter of time until the flu epidemic became a political issue in Mexico. Now, as the danger seems to be lessening, may be the time.Flu Is Injecting Itself Into Mexican Politics
The slumping economy and the bloody drug war had been Mexican voters’ top worries ahead of midterm elections in July. Then the mysterious A(H1N1) virus gave Mexicans the scare of their lives...
Pollsters, who had found President Felipe Calderón’s governing National Action Party lagging before the flu bug hit, are scrambling back into the field to see how the influenza outbreak may have changed the dynamics of the election season...
Daniel Lund, a pollster and the president of the MUND Group, who is conducting focus groups on the flu’s effects [said] “In a natural disaster, the ruling party is hurt with a slow or corrupt response..."The campaign had shown early signs of dirtiness, with rival parties accusing one another of drug cartel connections. But as far as sanitation goes, this may prove to be the cleanest campaign in history...
Large political rallies... are discouraged... Candidates are urged not to wear neckties because they are viewed as potential carriers of viruses. Baby kissing... is frowned on, as are handshakes...
At least for now, influenza has managed to overshadow the drug war, which continues to cause heavy casualties. If nothing else, though, the government’s aggressive response to the flu may dispel the notion that drug gangs have Mexico tottering on the edge of collapse...
Labels: capacity, elections, Mexico, politics
posted by Ken Wedding @ 6:06 AM
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