The national president of the National Action Party (PAN), Marko Cortés, responded to criticism from Felipe Calderón, former president of Mexico, with a critique of the period in which he was president.
In his response through social network X, Marko Cortés asked Calderón to explain the circumstances that led to the worst drop in voting in the history of the PAN during his presidency. “Explain to us why the worst drop in voting for @AccionNacional in history was when you were president, leaving our candidate in third place,” Cortés wrote.
Marko Cortés responds to Felipe Calderón. Photo: Screenshot
The debate between the national leader of the PAN and the former president of Mexico continued with Calderón’s response. He explained that the fall of the PAN has a very clear explanation: its leaders.
“Especially the current one, Marko Cortés, has helped himself with a big spoon. 6 years in the leadership and he only covered 39% of the polling station representatives? What did he do in 6 years apart from grabbing the pluris and the notaries?”, he wrote on his X account.
Calderón also mentioned that “the pettiness of these individuals and some candidates made the PAN assume a narrative far removed from the achievements of their governments, dedicated to distancing itself from them, despite the fact that public opinion evaluated them with the best.”
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He claimed that “if the PAN had adopted a narrative in line with a PAN government that had a 68% approval rating, instead of distancing itself from it, things would be different.”
Calderón questioned the party’s recent decisions regarding the plurinominal lists, and pointed out the exclusion of Jorge Triana after criticizing the presence of Cortés and his associates.
Read also Felipe Calderón attacks Marko Cortés for leaving Jorge Triana out of Congress
In addition, the PAN president addressed the issue of Genaro Garcia Luna, former Secretary of Public Security during the administration of Calderón, who faces charges in the USA for drug trafficking and corruption. “I would also like to ask you to explain to us what happened to García Luna, because without any responsibility, this caused enormous damage to the PAN’s campaign,” he added.
Cortés raised the question of whether Calderón was unaware of what was happening in his government or whether he allowed it.
Read also Javier Lozano criticizes Marko Cortés for not recognizing García Luna as a member of the PAN: “that’s why we’re so screwed”
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Marko Cortés and Felipe Calderón Spar Over PAN’s Decline
The National Action Party (PAN) finds itself embroiled in a public dispute between its current national president, Marko Cortés, and its former president, Felipe Calderón. The feud has escalated on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), with both leaders trading barbs over the party’s recent electoral performance and its historical trajectory.
Cortés Challenges Calderón’s Legacy
Cortés, in a direct challenge to Calderón’s leadership, questioned the circumstances surrounding the PAN’s worst electoral performance in its history, which occurred during Calderón’s presidency. He explicitly addressed the drop in voter turnout and the party’s third-place finish in the 2012 presidential election.
“Explain to us why the worst drop in voting for @AccionNacional in history was when you were president, leaving our candidate in third place,” Cortés wrote on X.
Calderón Counters: “Leadership is the Problem”
Calderón, in response, attributed the PAN’s decline to its current leadership, particularly Cortés. He pointed to the party’s internal struggles and criticized Cortés’s leadership, alleging a lack of effective action.
“Especially the current one, Marko Cortés, has helped himself with a big spoon. 6 years in the leadership and he only covered 39% of the polling station representatives? What did he do in 6 years apart from grabbing the pluris and the notaries?”, Calderón retorted on X.
Beyond Leadership: A Narrative of Disengagement
Calderón further expanded his critique, arguing that the PAN’s recent misfortunes stem from a disconnect between the party and its own history of achievement. He claimed that a focus on distancing itself from past successes, despite public opinion’s positive reception of those achievements, contributed to the party’s decline.
“The pettiness of these individuals and some candidates made the PAN assume a narrative far removed from the achievements of their governments, dedicated to distancing itself from them, despite the fact that public opinion evaluated them with the best,” Calderón stated.
Calderón’s “What If?” Scenario
Calderón presented a hypothetical scenario in which the PAN had embraced a narrative aligned with its past successes. He believes that this approach would have yielded a different outcome.
“If the PAN had adopted a narrative in line with a PAN government that had a 68% approval rating, instead of distancing itself from it, things would be different,” he suggested.
Internal Struggle: Triana’s Exclusion and Plurinominal Lists
Calderón also raised concerns about the PAN’s recent decisions regarding its plurinominal lists, highlighting the exclusion of Jorge Triana, a prominent figure who had openly criticized Cortés and his associates.
Cortés Targets Genaro García Luna
Cortés, in turn, brought up the case of Genaro García Luna, Calderón’s former Secretary of Public Security, who is currently facing charges in the United States for drug trafficking and corruption. He questioned Calderón’s knowledge of García Luna’s activities during his administration.
“I would also like to ask you to explain to us what happened to García Luna, because without any responsibility, this caused enormous damage to the PAN’s campaign,” Cortés remarked.
Cortés’s query aims to implicate Calderón in any potential wrongdoing related to García Luna’s actions, suggesting that he either ignored or allowed these activities while in office.
A Growing Divide within the PAN
This public exchange exposes a growing divide within the PAN, with Cortés and Calderón representing opposing factions. The party’s internal dynamics are now under close scrutiny amid the ongoing debate over its direction and future.