Reply With QuoteThis is for a one 6 year term? right?
What are the prevailing issues apart from the Cartels?
Mexico: Mexico's Presidential candidates.
[QUOTEMexico's presidential candidates have faced off in their first TV debate. What are their visions amid an unrelenting drug war and an economy dependent on the struggling fortunes of the US?][/QUOTE]
In this thread we will discuss the Candidates and their views for the country. Also we will discuss the effect the media has In Mexico. Some post may be in spanish. If needed I will translate as best as possible.
First question is: Who is the Best Candidate to lead the country?
This is for a one 6 year term? right?
What are the prevailing issues apart from the Cartels?
Yes, Its for one 6 year term. Apart from the Cartels, there is the economy, PEMEX, Corruption.Originally Posted by Ordie
Are there Congressional and State elections?
It seems the PRI candidate has the surest chance of winning the Presidency. My question to Mexican members is do you think that the quality of Mexican democracy has come far enough since 1997 and 2000 that the risk of backsliding into a state of perpetual one-party rule is no longer a concern? I'm assuming the PRI, being the chief opposition party, will also make gains in both the Chamber of Deputies and Senate.
Last edited by szr; 05-14-2012 at 02:33 AM.
Some state elections usually coincide with the federal elections, but most do not. I think there will be state elections in Guanajuato and Jalisco at least. All 300 congessional districts are up for election as are the 200 proporsional representation seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Half the Senate Seats are also up for election.
Public security, jobs, the economy, education, health care, pretty much what everybody else on the planet is concerened about.
al jazeera english at least opens up its viewers to issues around the world so u could do ur own research. ive got to see good video quality of au troops in somalia cuz of aljazeera eng.
To answer your first question, with all it's flaws over the past twelve years, I would still say that the PAN is the better choice. I'm old enough to remember the terribly corrupt and incompetent governmnets of the PRI. I'm old enough to remember 150% yearly inflation and corruption scandals like "Negro Durazo" and "Raul Salinas" and the very common practices of holding extremely dirty and fraudulent elections that kept the PRI in power for 71 years. The PAN in the past twelve years has not enjoyed a majority in congress and has had to deal with the constant obstructions and delaying of reforms necessary for the country's growth, delays and obstructions coming from both the PRI and the left. Those reforms (which curiously the PRI's candidate is now saying are necessary) would have gone a long way in strengthening Mexico's economy, and a strong economy would mean much weaker criminal organizations, and were blocked simply because the PRI and the left did not want the PAN to get the credit for turning Mexico into Latin America's strongest economy. Despite this, and despite the world economic crisis, which hit our biggest trading partner hard, and which almost sunk several European countries, Mexico's economy has faired relatively well, and now Mexico has the biggest foreign currency reserve in it's history. So I think that despite all the problems they haven't done such a f-up job. I would vote for them again, but also recognize that without a majority in Congress, we would be in for another 6 years of the same (but I'd rather have six years of the same that go back to the old days).
In my believe the Mexican democracy has evolve for better or for worse. I dont believe the country could backslide into one party state. However it is of concern.
Another question for the People in the States. What is the media saying about the candidates, and who is in the lead?
Me and my friends were talking yesterday about Mexican Identity. Mexico as a Country came to be in the 20's, the 110+ years was constant civil war. And well with all its flaws PRI Marks Mexico with some sort of Identety, Starting with their colors and the name. For most Mexicans such as my cousins family who still vote for PRI and who actually is a Mayor in her region (and her Party is PRI) through out the 70 years they saw the progres in Mexico, such as the creation of PEMEX, the increse in the economy, the Party who created some sort of culture like the "ferias" from rural towns, some traditions, revindication of Indigenous cultures. The party, during elections who gave free healthcare, who gave money out. etc. The party who did battle the Drug Lords, and participated with them so there would be no violence. The party were corruption is now the norm. And because they were in power so long they get special previlages like if you dont vote it goes straight to PRI, thats why you still have to go to the voting booth and mark a huge X on the sheet.
And yes with all its flaws in the past twelve years they did good in the seat but My vote goes to PRD.
The reason I will not vote for Lopez Obrador is that I do not trust him, and I believe he's too much like Hugo Chavez to respect Mexican democracy. The only way that Mexico will eventually progress is for democracy to continue it's course, to continue solidifying itself. In essence, Mexican democracy still needs to mature, a difficult task if we go back to the party that was farthest away from being democratic (the PRI), and a party that has deep roots in the PRI (the PRD). Let's not forget that Lopez Obrador started his political life within the PRI (he even gave a speech for Carlos Salinas during the 1988 campaign, before he switched sides). Many of his followers are also turn-coat priistas, like the ex-minister of the interior and the man responsible for the "falling of the system" during the fraudulent elections of 1988, Manuel Bartlet Diaz. A few years ago Lopez Obrador would have satanized him, now he's "one of the good guys". Another big problem that I have with him is his mesianic tendencies, a few days ago he said "2012 is the last chance that Mexico has for a real change", it sounds to me like he believes that true change can only come with him, and only him, if not we are eternally doomed, which is just plain b.s. In my opinion he doesn't really stand a chance, for the only way that he could win is if the PAN supporters changed sides and voted for him, which is NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, for in 2006 and the years that followed, he did an awesome job at antagonizing PAN supporters and polirizing the country. I really think that the PRD missed it's chance by selecting him rather than Marcelo Ebrad, which was seen by PAN supporters as a more modern and moderate representative of the left, much more respectful of institution that Lopez Obrador has proven to be.
There is little US media attention about the Mexican presidential elections. Largely due to the current US Presidential elections and the lack of newspaper and media reporters based in Mexico. I would not be surprised if Al Jazeera and China's CCTV have a larger contingent of reporters in Mexico than CNN, NYT, and Fox News combined.
Anecdotally, the Mexican voters I come across in the United States are dismissive about Mexican politics. For many of them they are very jaded of the empty promises and corruption. However the older generations have nostalgia for the single party dictatorship under the PRI. Nobody got rich, but no body starved (government subsidized tortillas and frijoles) and you can walk out safe at night. If you got into trouble, name-drop a 'fulano-de-tal' from the local PRI office and all gets sorted out.
As for the Americans, they are clueless of Mexican politics, but the same can be said about Canadian politics as well.
The issues I'm looking from the Mexican elections are:
1) Transparency (Need to stop the culture of corruption)
2) Rule of law and legal reforms. (Very slow, cumbersome, and no jury trials).
3) The lack of anti-trust regulations. (Monopolies tend to shut out start-ups and entrepeneurs).
4) Pemex upgrade (Need to keep the goose that lays the golden healthy).
5) Education (A half-day of elementary school is not enough to compete in the global market).
6) Foreign Affairs (Beef up the diplomatic corps and establish more embassies and trade missions).
Which candidate is best positioned to make changes at PEMEX? It's going to be crucial that reforms are done there in the next few years, after that it's going to be too late.
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