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Mexico union leader Elba Esther Gordillo arrested | Mexico union leader Elba Esther Gordillo arrested |
(35 minutes later) | |
Union head Elba Esther Gordillo, known as Mexico's most powerful woman, has been arrested on corruption charges. | Union head Elba Esther Gordillo, known as Mexico's most powerful woman, has been arrested on corruption charges. |
Ms Gordillo, who runs the 1.5 million-member Mexican teachers' union, is alleged to have diverted about $200m from union funds to personal accounts. | Ms Gordillo, who runs the 1.5 million-member Mexican teachers' union, is alleged to have diverted about $200m from union funds to personal accounts. |
No-one from her legal team has responded to the allegations, but in the past she has denied any wrongdoing in handling the funds. | No-one from her legal team has responded to the allegations, but in the past she has denied any wrongdoing in handling the funds. |
The arrest came after major reforms to the education system on Monday. | The arrest came after major reforms to the education system on Monday. |
President Enrique Pena Nieto signed the sweeping reforms, which seek to change a system dominated by Ms Gordillo in which teaching positions could be sold or inherited. | President Enrique Pena Nieto signed the sweeping reforms, which seek to change a system dominated by Ms Gordillo in which teaching positions could be sold or inherited. |
"We are looking at a case in which the funds of education workers have been illegally misused, for the benefit of several people, among them Elba Esther Gordillo," Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam said. | "We are looking at a case in which the funds of education workers have been illegally misused, for the benefit of several people, among them Elba Esther Gordillo," Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam said. |
His office alleges Ms Gordillo, 68, spent the funds on plastic surgery and a luxury home. | His office alleges Ms Gordillo, 68, spent the funds on plastic surgery and a luxury home. |
Real influence | Real influence |
The BBC's Will Grant in Mexico City says that Ms Gordillo is one of the highest profile figures in Mexican political life, known simply as "la maestra" or "the teacher". | The BBC's Will Grant in Mexico City says that Ms Gordillo is one of the highest profile figures in Mexican political life, known simply as "la maestra" or "the teacher". |
For more than 20 years she has led the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE). | For more than 20 years she has led the National Union of Education Workers (SNTE). |
With an estimated 1.5 million members, the SNTE is considered Latin America's most powerful union. | |
Ms Gordillo has held real influence over governments and individual presidents by persuading her union members to vote as a single bloc, our correspondent says. | |
The teachers were also responsible for manning polling stations on election day. | The teachers were also responsible for manning polling stations on election day. |
Her union is very wealthy, and can count on an annual budget of tens of millions of dollars. | |
It is on claims that she mishandled those funds, allegedly diverting money intended for the union's coffers to her personal accounts, that she has now been arrested. | It is on claims that she mishandled those funds, allegedly diverting money intended for the union's coffers to her personal accounts, that she has now been arrested. |
The reforms appeared set to weaken the powerful teachers' union, which has largely controlled access to the profession. | The reforms appeared set to weaken the powerful teachers' union, which has largely controlled access to the profession. |
The union has argued that reforms could lead to massive lay-offs. | The union has argued that reforms could lead to massive lay-offs. |
Critics also say the changes could signal the start of the privatisation of education in Mexico. | Critics also say the changes could signal the start of the privatisation of education in Mexico. |
Mexico's education system currently ranks bottom in a list of members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). | Mexico's education system currently ranks bottom in a list of members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). |
The reforms will require teachers to undergo regular assessments, something that has previously never taken place inside Mexico's primary and secondary schools. | The reforms will require teachers to undergo regular assessments, something that has previously never taken place inside Mexico's primary and secondary schools. |
Many teachers in Mexico are said to have a very low standard of education themselves, with some only having graduated from high school. | Many teachers in Mexico are said to have a very low standard of education themselves, with some only having graduated from high school. |
Another change is intended to tackle the problem of absent or even deceased teachers receiving wages. | Another change is intended to tackle the problem of absent or even deceased teachers receiving wages. |
Ms Gordillo has been an outspoken critic of the current education minister and his approach to the reforms. | Ms Gordillo has been an outspoken critic of the current education minister and his approach to the reforms. |