Guerrero Government Turns Over Peacefully

(Chilpancingo, AN 1 April) Security was as tight as it could ever be today in the State Legislature, where the swearing in of governor-elect Ángel Aguirre Rivero took place. Only invited guests and legislators were admitted, who had to pass through metal detectors, under the watchful eye of armed guards. The building had been sealed off since Wednesday.

The spokesman for the state congress, Ossiel Pacheco Salas, explained that as soon as the second legislative session of the year was brought to order, the deputies named a special committee to accompany the Federal Secretary of Government, Francisco Blake Mora, and the governor elect to the presiding justice of the state Supreme Court, Edmundo Román Pinzón, who administered the oath of office. The outgoing governor, Zeferino Torreblanca Galindo, was not present, having left the state the night before. Governor Aguirre addressed the assembled legislature, the judicial branch and the senior staff of the executive branch of government. The ceremony lasted about 2 hours and a half.

Ambassadors to Mexico from several countries attended: Cuba, Thailand, Peru, Indonesia, Ukraine, Egypt, Turkey, Panama and the United Nations. Governors from several states also made an appearance: Michoacán, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, Sinaloa, Campeche and Chiapas. The party leaders of the PRD, Convergencia and PT accepted their invitations. Those of the PRI did not. Manuel Añorve Baños remained in Acapulco.

On Wednesday the Federal Elections Tribunal dismissed the PRI’s protest of the election as being without foundation, and confirmed the certification of Aguirre as the winner.