Social media and the general conversation both in Mexico and abroad is that Mexican President Peña Nieto is rumored to have prostate cancer. He has already undergone at least three major operations since 2011–the last two within this past year. But as usual, the foreign press says more and speculates considerably more on this delicate matter than does the Mexican press.
A stable political Mexico is essential for the United States and Mexico.
What is new is respected Mexican journalist Rafael Loret de Mola reported Peña Nieto has cancer and should resign. As of July 2nd, the president’s office has remained silent regarding any mention of the president’s health.
Dr. Tony Payan, director of the Mexico Center at the Baker Institute understands the following as the line of succession in the Mexican presidency, a situation that has not occurred since the 1920s. It is noteworthy; however, to point out that Mexico has no vice president, as a result of Francisco I. Madero’s vice president having participated in his 1913 assassination. After that, Mexicans thought it was a bad idea to have a vice president since this would give that individual all the motives to undermine (or outright assassinate) the president in order to ascend to power.
If the President were to die or become incapacitated, the Mexican Congress turns into an Electoral College. They elect an interim President. If the President dies or becomes incapacitated in the first two years of his six-year term, the interim president’s first job is to organize elections within a year and a half of his election. If the President dies or becomes incapacitated after the second year of his six-year term, the interim president will serve out the rest of the term. And, he believes, both legislative houses of the Mexican government, in a joint session, would become an Electoral College- that is 500 members of the lower house and 128 senators.