Twitter Users Are Savagely Mocking This Mexican Politician Now That He’s Been Arrested
Javier Duarte, the former governor of Veracruz, Mexico, has been on the run from Mexican authorities for six months. Duarte is suspected of embezzling millions of government dollars and laundering them in phantom businesses. The Mexican politician was eventually found in a hotel with his wife in Panajachel, Guatemala, a popular resort town. As usual, Mexicans on Twitter did what they do and turned the news story into one solid joke after another after his arrest photos were released.
This was former Mexican governor Javier Duarte’s reaction to being arrested this weekend.
Javier Duarte’s smiles caused by nerves #News #corruption #embezzlement #javierduarte pic.twitter.com/fjMTxsbWtL
— Luis Alejandre (@luis__doporto) April 17, 2017
Duarte was able to elude authorities for six months as Interpol, Mexican authorities, and Guatemalan authorities sought him out to face accusations of embezzling and money laundering. According to Al Jazeera, the arrest of Duarte is welcomed news in Mexico, a country whose people are fed up with government corruption. Al Jazeera reports that many people in Veracruz especially see Duarte as the personification of what they are fed up with.
And Twitter started to create one glorious meme after another to poke fun at the fugitive ex-politician.
Próxima novela de televisa… Quinceañera fugitiva! #JavierDuarte pic.twitter.com/Ml0Kbm62Ma
— HANNAH ⭐️ (@CABRER4CK) April 17, 2017
“The next novela from Televisa…Fugitive Quinceañera,” @CABRER4CK wrote.
His faces became real representations of some people’s inner struggles.
☺ my face | my soul ? #JavierDuarte #JaviDu pic.twitter.com/6sMCX0Twd2
— Nobodyaskedyou (@aleshanett) April 16, 2017
El País reports that Duarte resigned from his position as governor of Veracruz, Mexico, just days before a judge ordered his arrest. Duarte told the press that he resigned so that he could defend himself from accusations of money laundering and embezzlement but it seems like he was just preparing to run.
Some people felt his pain… but not really.
#Guatemala o Guatepior? ? #JavierDuarte pic.twitter.com/kFhdSEIk1W
— Alan Bolton (@alanbolton_) April 16, 2017
“#Guate-bad or Guate-worst? ? #JavierDuarte,” wrote @alanbolton_.
Instead, some people on Twitter are letting authorities know just what should be done with Duarte.
NO MERCY ???? #JavierDuarte pic.twitter.com/pHQJvuB3rT
— Canito (@SoyCanitoo) April 16, 2017
Duarte was first elected governor of Veracruz in 2010. According to Al Jazeera, during his time on the run, Mexican authorities were able to recoup $19.3 million from two companies that Duarte was using to embezzle money from the government. Time reports that Duarte’s infamy as the face of political corruption in Mexico was so severe that he was the example of corruption during the midterm elections last year. It was so damaging that his party, Partido Revolucionario Institucional (P.R.I.), lost the governorship of Veracruz for the first time since the state’s founding in 1929.
There are even some people who see the same defeat on his face that they saw on El Chapo’s face.
Chapoface#JavierDuarte pic.twitter.com/b08E3HOwFP
— Cris Castillo (@KrissCastilloz) April 16, 2017
How long until #ChapofaceChallenge becomes a thing now?
There was even a pretty solid “13 Reasons Why” reference.
Welcome to your tape… #JavierDuarte pic.twitter.com/1viUYR6USl
— Terricola (@MrChuchoCuevas) April 16, 2017
Duarte is not the only P.R.I.-affiliated governor who is on the run. Tomás Yarrington, the former governor of Tamaulipas, Mexico, who is facing racketeering and money laundering charges, was recently apprehended in Florence, Italy after five years on the run. Meanwhile, former Chihuahua governor César Duarte (no relation) is still on the run to avoid facing his own corruption accusations and is believed to be in El Paso, Texas. All of these politicians are part of the P.R.I. party.
Someone even created this Duarte tweet.
*No es Photoshop* #JavierDuarte pic.twitter.com/4ry08QeZMp
— FÉLIX (@memopoblete) April 16, 2017
I-Con-Ic!
And speaking of vacations, how does ending yours feel?
Según la escala #JavierDuarte,¿cómo te sientes después de que se acabaron las vacaciones? pic.twitter.com/aDAWPABuhZ
— Monserrat Rivera (@ariz_monca) April 17, 2017
“Following the #JavierDuarte scale, how do you feel after your vacation is over,” wrote @ariz_monca.
Some are even suspecting that United Airlines might be asked to help extradite Duarte back to Mexico.
Exclusive images of Javier Duarte arriving in Mexico on a @United flight from Guatemala. ?? pic.twitter.com/yQ5svedvBB
— Laura Martínez® (@miblogestublog) April 16, 2017
Reports show that Duarte has already accepted the fact that he will be extradited to Mexico to face his accusations.
