Luis Octavio Vidrio, a deputy from the Movimiento Ciudadano (MC) party in Jalisco, Mexico, recently found himself at the center of a political firestorm. His 51st birthday celebration, a private affair, featured performances of narcocorridos – songs that glorify drug cartels – directly referencing Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias “El Mencho,” the leader of the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG). This event has ignited a heated debate about the apologia of crime in public spaces, particularly given Jalisco’s existing law against such activities.
The party, held in the municipality of Tlajomulco de Zúñiga where Vidrio serves as a representative, included a performance by Chicho Castro, a popular corridos tumbados singer. Videos circulating online, verified by Milenio newspaper, show Castro singing songs with lyrics mentioning high-powered weapons, violence, and explicit references to “El Mencho.” One particularly controversial line translates to “I’m wearing a shirt with the Mencho’s logo,” a detail that has fueled criticism on social media, highlighting what many perceive as political hypocrisy.
The controversy is further amplified by the fact that some MC legislators are actively pushing for initiatives to ban the glorification of crime in musical performances, while others, like Vidrio, appear to be engaging with artists whose repertoire directly contradicts this stance. Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus Navarro proposed a law in April to prevent issuing licenses to artists who perform narcocorridos, but this initiative remains stalled in the state Congress.
While legal experts suggest Vidrio may not have broken any laws, as the event was private, the situation underscores a significant internal inconsistency within the MC party. The high-profile party, estimated to have cost over 200,000 pesos, was attended by several public officials, including the mayor of Tlajomulco, Gerardo Quirino Velázquez Chávez, as evidenced by photos shared by the deputy himself on social media.
This incident follows recent investigations into the band Los Alegres del Barranco for displaying images of “El Mencho” during a concert, facing multiple charges for apologia of crime and money laundering. Chicho Castro, who also performed at the same venue in July 2024, is known for songs referencing CJNG members and violent acts such as forced disappearances. The juxtaposition of these events serves to intensify the ongoing debate surrounding the normalization and celebration of narcoculture in Mexico.
The incident highlights a complex interplay between politics, culture, and organized crime in Mexico, raising questions about the effectiveness of current legislation and the potential need for stricter regulations to curb the normalization of narco-related content.
