On March 25th, the Mexican Senate ratified the appointment of Monte Alejandro Rubido García as head of the National Security Commission (CNS), thereby initiating a new phase in the government’s policies dealing with public security. Given the professional experience of the new CNS chief, it is expected there will be a greater focus on intelligence rather than the police aspects when tackling organized crime. However, with the purpose of providing a clearer approach to what the future of actions as well as the security policy will be, it is essential to review the profile of the new commissioner.
The political discourse points out that the government’s public policies regarding security and justice procurement are mainly established within the 2013-2018 National Development Plan as well as the National Program for Social Prevention of Violence and Crime. The reality remarks that there are exceptional stakeholders which are outside the institutional order and who attempt to pacify conflict areas; the country also has meagre results regarding the success of institutional measures for preventing and tackling crime and the professionalization of security bodies. On the other hand, there has been an increase of media control on violent crimes – no more “body counts” or images of beheadings – , a discretion regarding the so-called “triumphs” against organized crime – a continuous repetition for several weeks of either the apprehension of “El Chapo” or the killing of “El Chayo” is now out of the question – , and the insecurity issue has become a secondary topic within the government’s social communication policy. Nevertheless, this strategy of keeping appearances will be under pressure when the need to see tangible results comes to the surface. Undoubtedly, the path to be followed will be set by actions undertaken by the new national security commissioner.
One of the most significant actions within Rubido’s agenda is the setting up of the National Gendarmerie as well as the strengthening and use of government intelligence apparatus; this was something argued by himself while being ratified by the Senate. The Gendarmerie is a Presidential campaign promise delivered by Enrique Peña Nieto and whose launch has been repeatedly delayed. Its importance relies on the fact that it could provide an institutional hierarchy within the national security scheme. When taking into account the current scenario of tackling organized crime, it is not a minor issue to create an institution constituted by civilians but with a military or navy training, professionalization and discipline. In other words, this means taking the advantages of militarized bodies to the Secretariat of Government, but without dealing with military jurisdiction or subordination. On the other hand, it would be interesting to follow up the development and use of Platform Mexico and, especially, the compilation and exploitation of information through intelligence policies. This is a highly sensitive subject, not only because of the direct impact when tackling crime but because its difficulty of being implemented. It would require information from different agencies at different levels of government, which also implies a high risk of political abuse.
That way, both immediate as well as long-term actions undertaken by the new commissioner and the profile handled to CNS will enable a better understanding of the national security strategy. It will also help to see whether there is a new readjustment among institutions, as well as their feasibility and impact. Regardless of this new phase started by Rubido, it is essential that results come in hand as well, not only because it is an urgent social demand, but because it is a risk that may compromise Mexico’s reputation and hinder the economic achievement of the recently approved and publicized reforms.
CIDAC
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