Teaching Comparative Government and Politics

Monday, November 28, 2011

The Mexican presidential campaign begins

Putin is not the only politician who is beginning an election campaign.

Pena Nieto confirms Mexico 2012 presidential bid

The early frontrunner for next year's presidential election in Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, has formally registered his candidacy.

Mr Pena Nieto is standing for the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which governed for 71 years before losing power in 2000…

Mr Nieto, 45, is often described as Mexico's most handsome politician.

In September he stepped down as governor of the state of Mexico, the country's most populous state, where he gained a strong support by delivering public works…

After registering his candidacy in Mexico City, he told supporters that the PRI could deliver positive change.

"Today in Mexico there is fear, but better times are coming," he said.

"A wind of hope and change is blowing: the PRI will restore the greatness of Mexico because we believe in solutions, not illusions."…

The election campaign is likely to be dominated by debate over how to combat drug-related violence, which has killed more than 40,000 Mexicans since Mr Calderon became president in December 2006.

Mr Nieto has called Mr Calderon's decision to use the army against drugs cartels "rushed and poorly planned," but he has not said if he would take the troops off the streets.