The latest appointments......

President Felipe Calderón announced part of his Cabinet “plus” (there are still 29 more appointments he needs to make announcing the heads of independent agencies, and “para estatales.” About an hour ago a press release was issued by Los Pinos announcing some of the most relevant appointments:

Jesús Reyes Heroles González Garza is the new PEMEX Director. He was the Secretary of Energy and Education and former Ambassador for Mexico in Washington during the Zedillo Administration. Was a staunch PRI member, however, distanced himself from the PRI presidential Candidate Roberto Madrazo. (Surprising appointment. I believe no one saw this one coming. Although as Secretary of Energy he had a higher rank then the PEMEX director, it has been impossible for the Secretary of Energy to control or supervise PEMEX and the Federal Electricity Commission. With that said, this is a smart appointment, however, it will not be seen as a quota appointment for the PRI).
Alfredo Elías Ayub was ratified as the Federal Electricity Commission Director. (Comment: He has done a great job, best keep him there for now.)
Miguel Ángel Yunes Linares will be at the ISSSTE (Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado-Social Security and Health Services for Government Workers)
(Comment: Yunes is a close ally of Elba Esther Gordillo, nation-wide leader of the Teacher’s Union. She expected him to become the Public Security Secretary in repayment for her support during the elections. There has been a fall-out between Gordillo and President Calderón. She in fact talked about this in a TV interview. The new Secretary of Education Josefina Vazquez Mota will be facing very difficult times with the Teachers Union.)
Juan Molinar Horcasitas will head the IMSS (Social Security and Health System). Comment: Molinar is a former PAN legislator, campaigned for Calderón; there were some expectations that he would be appointed to the Cabinet.

This press release also announced who belongs to the inner circle in Los Pinos:
In addition to the “Chief of Staff” position already announced by Calderón which is Juan Camilo Mouriño, the “secretario particular” is César Nava Vázquez, the President’s Chief Counsel is, once again, Daniel Francisco Cabeza de Vaca Hernández (was initially Fox’s Chief Counsel and then was appointed Attorney General, replacing General Rafael Macedo de la Concha, Head of the Press and Communication Office is Maximiliano Cortázar Lara, Chief of the Office Image and Public Opinión Office is Alejandra Sota Mirafuentes, Head of the Advisers Office (Coordinación de Asesores) is Dionisio Pérez-Jácome Friscione; Head Administrator Patricia Flores Elizondo and the head of the Special Projects Office is Gerardo Ruiz Mateos.