03/31/11— Felipe Calderón confirmed today that Attorney General (PGR) Arturo Chávez Chávez has resigned after 18 months in office. Chávez is the second attorney general to resign under President Felipe Calderón since he took office in 2006. When Chávez was appointed the position, he was highly criticized by both opposition party officials and civil society organizations and it was also noted in WikiLeaks cables that his appointment was a disappointment because it meant the loss of what most saw as the “key to safety in Mexico,” Eduardo Medina Mora.
Chávez was appointed after the resignation of Medina Mora, who was a key architect in Calderón’s plan to crackdown on drug trafficking and organized crime. According to a leaked cable, Medina Mora resigned because he was unable to work with the head of the police, Genaro Garcia Luna.
Felipe Calderón proposed to Congress that Marisela Morales Ibañez, the current head of the special investigations unit for organized crime under Calderón, take Chávez’s place as Attorney General. He noted that if Congress approves the nomination, she will not only play a vital role in “consolidating Mexico as a country of laws,” but also be the first woman to hold the post in Mexico’s history.
Sources:
Castillo, E. Eduardo.”2nd Mexican Attorney Under Calderon Quits.” Chron. March 31, 2011.
Mosso, Ruben. “Sale Arturo Chávez de la PGR.” Milenio. 31 de marzo, 2011.
“Sale Arturo Chávez de la PGR.” La Crónica. 31 de marzo, 2011.
“Calderón postula a Marisela Morales como relevo en la PGR.” Informador. 31 de marzo, 2011.
