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 – wait, is this a democracy?

2012 Election Enrique Pen ͂ a Nieto elected president PRI candidate Manuel Lopez Obrador (PRD) claimed stolen from him, again… PRI in control of the presidency but not the legislature The telenovela president?

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