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2 nomic justice. The root cause of violence, part of a well-designed law-enforcement ideas are met with scepticism. “We cannot
he argues, is a lack of opportunity. But that strategy. Benjamin Lessing, a political sci- solve this in a nice way,” says Mr Ortiz,
explains neither its nationwide rise nor its entist at the University of Chicago, argues Irapuato’s mayor. Three-quarters of voters
surge in prosperous Guanajuato. that gangs have no incentive to behave bet- oppose the idea of amnesty. But in areas
The candidate’s new idea for reducing ter if the state subjects them to “full, uncon- with bloodier histories they may be more
crime, apart from fighting poverty, is to of- ditional pressure”. The state should crack receptive. “It is very different if you live in
fer an amnesty to low-level drug traffick- down hard when gangs overstep defined Tamaulipas, Guerrero, Michoacán or some
ers. In the debate he spoke of inviting Pope boundaries, he says. Using data to focus state that is very affected by drug-traffick-
Francis to mediate between gangs and the policing on the most violent areas, as Co- ing,” said Francisco Abundis, a pollster, in a
state. “We cannot put out a fire with fire,” lombia has done, would also help. But recent television interview. Mr López
said Mr López Obrador. His rivals accused such tactics require sophistication as well Obrador thinks he can persuade gangsters
him of blessing the impunity that plagues as toughness. It is not clear that Mr López to lay down their arms, and voters to for-
criminal justice. “You want to forgive the Obrador has either quality. give them. After the bungled crackdowns
unforgivable,” Mr Meade said. In Guanajuato, still shocked by the re- by previous governments, Mexicans may
Conciliation of some sort could help as cent spike in murders, his velvet-glove give him a chance. 7