Mexico City - Members of Yucatan state's ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) have prevented a newly established electoral council's monitors from taking office, reports Michael McCaughan. This casts doubts on the organisation of an election for governor, due in May.
PRI loyalists attacked officials as they attempted to gain entry into their offices. The election monitors were finally sworn into office late on Monday. Yucatan state now has two electoral bodies, one appointed by the PRI-dominated state congress, the other appointed by Mexico's Federal Electoral Authority.
"There is only one electoral authority in Yucatan with power to register candidates," warned a leading Yucatan magistrate, who advised the PRI they risked the loss of their gubernatorial candidate's nomination if they refused to recognise the new election of council members.
