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Mexican presidential candidate accuses government of spying on him Mexican presidential candidate accuses government of spying on him
(about 1 hour later)
Ricardo Anaya alleges surveillance is part of pattern of espionage against opponents of current president Enrique Peña Nieto Ricardo Anaya alleges surveillance is part of pattern of espionage against Enrique Peña Nieto’s opponents
David Agren in Mexico CityDavid Agren in Mexico City
Wed 14 Feb 2018 01.01 GMTWed 14 Feb 2018 01.01 GMT
Last modified on Wed 14 Feb 2018 01.02 GMT Last modified on Wed 14 Feb 2018 02.08 GMT
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A Mexican presidential candidate has accused the country’s intelligence service of surveilling his campaign – part of a pattern of alleged espionage against opponents of the current president Enrique Peña Nieto and his embattled administration. A Mexican presidential candidate has accused the country’s intelligence service of surveilling his campaign – part of a pattern of alleged espionage against opponents of President Enrique Peña Nieto and his embattled administration.
Ricardo Anaya, the likely candidate for a right-left coalition, posted a tweet on Tuesday showing him confronting a person following him in a Jeep. After an awkward handshake, the driver readily identified himself as working for “Cisen”, Mexican intelligence. He said he was following Anaya “so that there’s no problem”. Ricardo Anaya, the likely candidate for a right-left coalition, posted a tweet on Tuesday showing him confronting a person following him in a Jeep. After an awkward handshake, the driver readily identified himself as working for Cisen, the Mexican intelligenceservice. He said he was following Anaya “so that there’s no problem”.
“Instead of pursuing criminals, they’re spying on opponents,” Anaya tweeted.“Instead of pursuing criminals, they’re spying on opponents,” Anaya tweeted.
“This is what they’re spending state money on. That’s why we are the way we are,” he added, alluding to Mexico suffering its most murderous year on record in 2017.“This is what they’re spending state money on. That’s why we are the way we are,” he added, alluding to Mexico suffering its most murderous year on record in 2017.
Left-leaning poll-leader Andrés Manuel López Obrador also said recently that he and his family had been spied upon. He has promised to disband Cisen if he wins the 1 July election. The left-leaning poll-leader Andrés Manuel López Obrador has also said that he and his family have been spied upon. He has promised to disband Cisen if he wins the 1 July election.
The latest accusations come as Mexico prepares for a contentious presidential campaign. The latest accusations come as Mexico prepares for a contentious presidential campaign. The ruling Institutional Revolutionary party has been bogged down by corruption scandals and the sedate style of its proposed candidate, the former finance minister José Antonio Meade, has failed to excite voters.
The ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) has been bogged down by corruption scandals and the sedate style of its proposed candidate, former finance minister José Antonio Meade, has failed to excite voters. Anaya, a former congressman with the right-leaning National Action party, has placed second in most polls, though some on social media voiced suspicions he was trying to create publicity at a time when the rules require candidates to keep a low profile.
Anaya, a former congressman with the right-leaning National Action Party (PAN), has placed second in most polls, though some on social media voiced suspicions he was trying to create publicity at a time when the rules require candidates to keep a low profile. Accusations of espionage using sophisticated spying software surfaced against Peña Nieto’s government last year. Journalists, NGO workers and opposition politicians had their smartphones targeted, according to experts at the University of Toronto.
Accusations of espionage, using sophisticated spying software, surfaced against Peña Nieto’s government last year. Journalists, NGO workers and opposition politicians had their smartphones targeted, according to experts at the University of Toronto.
Cisen has a history of targeting political opponents. “What we were usually subject to were these strategic leaks of recorded conversations that put the person in a bad light,” said Federico Estévez, political science professor at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico.Cisen has a history of targeting political opponents. “What we were usually subject to were these strategic leaks of recorded conversations that put the person in a bad light,” said Federico Estévez, political science professor at the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico.
Cisen, he added, “has turned back into a political espionage centre”.Cisen, he added, “has turned back into a political espionage centre”.
The interior minister, Alfonso Navarrete, rejected the allegations, saying Cisen personnel were simply “following public activities and events occurring in the country”.The interior minister, Alfonso Navarrete, rejected the allegations, saying Cisen personnel were simply “following public activities and events occurring in the country”.
MexicoMexico
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Enrique Peña NietoEnrique Peña Nieto
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