An estimated 1.2 million people attended a rally on 24 April 2005 in support of former Mexico City Mayor
López Obrador (Photo: Antonio Olvera}



FRONT PAGE
SiteSearch
About us
Directories


Mexico's 2012 elections
Mexico City mayoral elections 2012
Mexico's 2010 elections
Oaxaca conflict
Drug war in Mexican cities
Mexican Mayors
Mexico's de facto powers
Mexican election - final phase
Mexican battle for presidency
Mexico City market
Mexico's urban poor
Some 1.2 million march for Mayor
The Puebla case
Mexico local government
Direct democracy in South America


City Mayors reports news from towns and cities around the world. Worldwide | Elections | North America | Latin America | Europe | Asia | Africa | Events |


Mayors from The Americas, Europe. Asia, Australia and Africa are competing for the annual World Mayor Award. More


City Mayors ranks the world’s largest as well as richest cities and urban areas. It also ranks the cities in individual countries, and provides a list of the capital cities of some 200 sovereign countries. More


City Mayors lists and features urban events, conferences and conventions aimed at urban decision makers and those with an interst in cities worldwide. More


City Mayors reports political events, analyses the issues and depicts the main players. More


City Mayors describes and explains the structures and workings of local government in Europe, The Americas, Asia, Australia and Africa. More


City Mayors profiles city leaders from around the world and questions them about their achievements, policies and aims. More


City Mayors deals with economic and investment issues affecting towns and cities. More


City Mayors reports on how business developments impact on cities and examines cooperation between cities and the private sector. More


City Mayors describes and explains financial issues affecting local government. More


City Mayors reports urban environmental developments and examines the challenges faced by cities worldwide. More


City Mayors reports on and discusses urban development issues in developed and developing countries. More


City Mayors reports on developments in urban society and behaviour and reviews relevant research. More


City Mayors deals with urban transport issues in developed and developing countries and features the world’s greatest metro systems. More


City Mayors examines education issues and policies affecting children and adults in urban areas. More


City Mayors investigates health issues affecting urban areas with an emphasis on health in cities in developing countries. More


City Mayors examines the contributions history and culture make to urban society and environment. More


City Mayors describes the history, architecture and politics of the greatest city halls in the world. More


City Mayors examines the importance of urban tourism to city economies. More


City Mayors invites readers to write short stories about people in cities around the world. More


City Mayors questions those who govern the world’s cities and talks to men and women who contribute to urban society and environment. More


City Mayors profiles national and international organisations representing cities as well as those dealing with urban issues. More


City Mayors reports on major national and international sporting events and their impact on cities. More


City Mayors lists cities and city organisations, profiles individual mayors and provides information on hundreds of urban events. More


Mexico’s presidential election
develops into two-horse race

By Adriana Maciel, Mexico Editor

28 June 2006: “The horse that catches up wins.” Those were the vociferous words of Roberto Madrazo Pintado, candidate of the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) in a recent campaign speech.  The truth is, he is still far behind Felipe Calderón, candidate of the PAN (National Action Party), and former Mexico City mayor Andrés Manuel López Obrador, (AMLO) candidate of the PRD (Democratic Revolution Party), the latter with a small lead over the former.

 The other two candidates are just struggling to maintain their Party’s Registration. The diverse surveys still show a very small difference between Felipe Calderón and AMLO, caused by the dirty war in which they have engaged.  And now they are coming up the finishing straight, and it remains to be seen who will be first past the post 

In recent days the five candidates have appeared on television in what they have called a “debate” - which was no debate at all, but simply an exposition of what they would do once in office.  There was no proper discussion. They did not question one another, and the public did not participate.  Nonetheless, Felipe Calderón, candidate of the PAN (National Action Party) and AMLO candidate of the PRD (Democratic Revolution Party) accused each other of having relatives and close collaborators with high incomes. 

Calderón demanded of López Obrador to explain his chauffeur’s earnings, and assured him he would not win the election due to his misgovernment in the Federal District.  At the end of the “debate” came the counter attack by López Obrador, who said he was presenting a dossier that showed that Calderón’s brother-in-law, Diego Hildebrando Zavala, had a massive income and avoided tax returns, and accused Calderón, when he was the Minister of Energy, of granting contracts to his brother-in-law’s company.  

But that is not all. During the past months, Mexicans have been caught in the crossfire having to bear the almost continuous war on television and radio among the three main parties and their candidates, firing broadside after broadside at one another. This dirty war is unfair on the people, causing confusion among them and increasing their lack of confidence and belief and thus creating a sense of uncertainty – to the extent that many have stated that they will not bother to vote on July 2. One protested: “We feel betrayed.  We do not trust any of them.” 

If Mexicans decide to boycott the polls on July 2, the mathematics of the voting situation will mean that Roberto Madrazo of the PRI Party will almost certainly win, since his hard line vote is composed of the unionism that holds 11 million of the 17 million required for a victory.

As Comandante Marcos (ZLN leader) said in a TV news programme, there are three candidates for three different markets.  The PRI Party has the unionism sector - those who prefer the devil you know, rather than the devil you don’t.

 The PAN Party has the support of the right wing middle and upper classes, who are quite content with how things are. The PRD Party stands for the poor. But the fear campaign promoted by the PAN Party (including President Fox and Calderón) is so strong that most people, who at first indicated they would be voting for AMLO, are starting to believe that he is in fact a danger to Mexico. Although such fears are not based upon facts, nevertheless, “a lie told 70 times, becomes true”.

Once in office, two of the most important objectives for AMLO are first, to increase incomes so that consumption rises, followed by increased production. Consequently there would be more investment and increased tax revenues, which would be used for the benefit of the people. This, it says, is in opposition to the current government, which is saving money as a reserve, and not using it to stimulate the economy.

 The second objective is to fight waste by gaining a better control of the administration of energy, agriculture, tourism and the various infrastructure sectors and to reduce the salaries of bureaucrats, then to reinvest all of those savings in those sectors. 

Power and politics are a great responsibility and should be all about the opportunity to serve. The next president must have a clear vision of his or her goals and challenges.  That President must not only be honest but also a competent and tough administrator.

 He or she must improve the education system in order to tackle the corruption and the ‘culture of impunity’ that is rife, and which has reigned for decades and become the scandal that it is. If Mexicans want a real change and a real democracy, then they must make their collective voice known – and vote on July 2.  

However, it is my considered opinion that none of the three candidates is fully capable of ruling this extraordinary and complicated country.

World Mayor 2023