Transcript Viva Mexico
İ Viva Mexico ! Current Politics and Issues Change since 1980’s • • • • • • Toward democracy – multiparty Economic improvement and liberalization Rich and poor disparity Growth of middle class in north Globalization Relationship with US 2000 and YA! • Win by Fox in 2000— peaceful transition of power – Goodbye to “living museum of history” – PRI faced delicate balance between need for credible opposition to engage in competition but with no chance to win and actual, level playing field and possible loss of power – One party system was not good for the legitimacy of the PRI d – Consequence of Reforms— Electoral Institute, factions within PRI, Zedillo 2006 Election • Won by Felipe Calderon PAN candidate • Promised to clean up the drug cartels • Manuel Lopez Obrador (PRD) claimed election fraud and set up alternative government 2012 Election • Enrique Pen͂a Nieto elected president • PRI candidate • Manuel Lopez Obrador (PRD) claimed stolen from him, The telenovela president? again • PRI in control of the presidency but not the legislature Dynamics of Divided Government • Inherent problems of a presidential system – Party that controls the executive does not necessarily control the legislature National Palace Mexico City – a house divided after 2012 elections PRI vs. PRD States in 2012 Presidential Election PRI states in green 20 states PRD states in yellow 8 states * PAN states in blue 4 states *PRD candidate Manuel Lopez Obrador continues to allege irregularities existed that cost him the election source: electionresources.org Chamber of Deputies 2012 Election Results PRI in green 240 seats PRD in yellow 136 seats PAN states in blue 114 seats source: electionresources.org Senate 2012 Election Results PRI in green 61senators PAN in blue 38 senators PRD in yellow 28 senators source: electionresources.org Domestic Agenda • • • • • Pluralism Decentralization Electoral Reform Rule of Law (i.e. judicial reform) Anti-narcotics • Criminal gangs in Mexico account for 11 of 13 largest drug markets in US • 39% heroin into USA • #1 supplier of methamphetamine • 93% cocaine into USA • Formation of Federal Agency of Investigation in Mexico (AFI) in 2002 Election Reform • Campaign finance restrictions • Critical media coverage • International watch teams • Election monitoring by opposition party members – IFE (Federal Election Institute) • Despite all this claims of rampant vote buying in 2012 Political Economy • Import Substitution Industrialization – Mexican “Miracle” 1950’s and 1960’s • Neoliberalism – Privatization with Mexican characteristics – NAFTA—pros and cons for Mexico – Maquiladoras – Economic success vs. political success? More Key Public Policy Issues • • • • • Human Rights Corruption Social Welfare Environment Migration Presidents Obama and Penã Nieto met at the White House, November 2012