Those who no one voted for

On February 1995 Raul Salinas de Gortari was arrested in Mexico City, by apprehending him Ernesto Zedillo broke one of the political system's golden rules; thou shall not touch the former President or his family. From that day on, Raul Salinas was know as the uncomfortable brother because of the many problems that, during the term and after, he cause to his brother, the already polemic President Carlos Salinas (1988-1994)

Raul Salinas was just one of many in a long tradition of abuses by members of the Presidential family. Because of the autocratic rule that prevailed in Mexico during most of the XX century the President and his family were untouchable from any kind of criticism from the press, needless to say that they were also untouchable for the judiciary system.

Of course that their joy lasted only for six years, but they were secure that the crimes, abuses and excesses that they committed when they were at the peaked would remain unpunished. Maximino Avila Camacho was one of the best examples of this category. Violent, ruthless, authocratic and arrogant, Maximino was the opposite of his brother, President Manuel Avila Camacho, whose good manners and mild temper were famous. The President had trouble protecting his brother from himself, Maximino got into fights, seduced woman and dispensed public funds at will. His arrogance reached its limits when he proclaimed that he would be the next President because, since his brother had been President he had the right to be his succesor.

In 1945 the PRI was supposed to nominate a candidate for the 1946 Presidential elections, Maximino was determined to become the candidate or, at least, have a great influence on the decision, he swore that, if the party nominated Miguel Aleman he would kill him. Maximino died of a heart attack before the party's convention, and the party nominated Maximino's hated enemy, Miguel Aleman.

The history of Maximino shows that there is a limit on the power that can be held by the President'' family, they can do whatever they please as long as they do not try to change history. For some of them, the power they receive is not enough.

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