Lawyer to lead Mexico’s drug fight

Conservative party lawyer replaces interior minister killed in air crash.

Fernando Gomez Mont, Mexican interior minister, with President Felipe Calderon
Calderon, left, has said winning the fight against drug gangs is his priority [REUTERS]

As a lawyer, he has represented powerful bankers and businessmen accused of fraud.

Javier Lozano, Mexico’s labour minister, said: “He’s a magnificent lawyer. He’s a man with a firm hand …  the arrival of Fernando Gomez-Mont should fill us with hope.”

Bribery and intimidation

Calderon has made winning the so-called “drug war” a cornerstone of his presidency.

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Rumours have been rife that Mourino’s death was caused by the drug cartels [AFP]

Violence involving the army, federal police and rival gangs has killed more than 4,000 people across Mexico this year.

With mid-term congressional elections due in July 2009, Calderon said he had asked Gomez-Mont to work to keep drug gangs from interfering with elections.

Calderon has warned in the past that drug cartels have tried to intimidate and bribe candidates.

Effectively a vice president, Mexico’s interior minister is in charge of domestic security but also works with opposition parties to drive the government’s agenda in congress.

As an independent lawyer, Gomez-Mont defended high-profile clients such as ex-president Carlos Salinas, a former director of oil monopoly Pemex, and the Canal 40 television network.

Source: News Agencies