Elba Esther Gordillo
Elba Esther Gordillo Morales (Spanish pronunciation: [elβaesˈteɾ ɣoɾˈðiʝo]; 6 February 1945) is a Mexican criminal and politician who has been the leader of the 1.4-million-strong National Education Workers' Union (Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de la Educación, or SNTE), the largest labor union in Latin America, since 1989. She was formerly affiliated with the Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional, or PRI) until 2005, when she left and founded the New Alliance Party (Partido Nueva Alianza, or PANAL), which is currently led by Luis Castro Obregón.
Elba Esther Gordillo Morales | |
|---|---|
Elba Esther Gordillo | |
| Secretary General of the Institutional Revolutionary Party | |
| In office 5 February 2002 – 30 August 2005 | |
| President | Roberto Madrazo |
| Preceded by | Sergio García Ramírez |
| Succeeded by | César Augusto Santiago |
| President of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 1 September 1987 – 30 September 1987 | |
| Preceded by | Reyes Rodolfo Flores |
| Succeeded by | Santiago Oñate Laborde |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies for the Federal District′s 2nd district | |
| In office 1 September 1985 – 31 August 1988 | |
| Preceded by | Rodolfo García Pérez |
| Succeeded by | Onofre Hernández Rivera |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies for the State of Mexico′s 26th district | |
| In office 1 September 1979 – 31 August 1982 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 February 1945 Comitán, Chiapas |
| Citizenship | Mexico |
| Political party | New Alliance Party (PANAL) |
| Children | Mónica Arriola Gordillo |
| Relatives | René Fujiwara (grandson) |
| Occupation | National Education Workers' Union leader |
| Known for | Embezzlement, organized crime |
Gordillo was arrested by the Mexican authorities on 26 February 2013 on charges of embezzlement and organized crime. She was included in a list of the "10 most corrupt Mexicans" published by Forbes in 2013.
Gordillo has held considerable influence over governments and individual presidents by persuading her union members to vote as a single bloc.