Monday, July 3, 2006
Mexico and the New President Must Now Rebuild
By
Carlos Luken
A traumatized nation has waited with hopeful anticipation for July 2, Election Day. As it arrived
– and passed – many Mexicans are relieved to cast away the confrontational and polarized atmosphere they endured
during the campaigns, wanting to get back to normal everyday lives.
For almost a year, in what was undoubtedly modern Mexico’s most divisive presidential race,
the public was subject to a ceaseless barrage of negative propaganda and polarized political platforms that did much to divide
and very little to unite the nation.
This campaign pitted three powerful political forces against each other. The representative of Latin
America’s surging left embodied in Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his Democratic Revolution Party (PRD); the struggling
conservative right represented by Felipe Calderon, from Vicente Fox’s National Action Party (PAN); and the gasping remnant
of Mexico’s old guard political autocracy, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) personified in Roberto Madrazo.
Each party considered this race a survival struggle that would outline their future. In truth, the
PRI had more to loose as it was fighting for its very existence. The PAN was hoping for the opportunity of continuing with
Fox’s macro-economic policies and their trickle down benefits to the poverty stricken population. And the PRD was bidding
for its share of Latin America’s surge to the left.
But once the balloting is closed and electoral authorities determine who the next president is,
Mexicans will recover to try to rebuild a nation razed by irresponsible and confrontational political rhetoric, which more
than anything damaged institutions instead of propping up candidates and proposals.
After listening to the endless flurry of candidate criticisms, many Mexicans emerged from the campaign
and election with a dire vision of their country. While some think it has been mismanaged by inept and dishonest officials,
who bend over backwards to transfer the nation’s wealth to multinational corporations, others shriek at the thought
that it will be taken over by an irresponsible leftist regime that will throw Mexico into another series of economic depression
cycles. Still others fear a return to an era of autocracy and corruption.
In an ill-fated effort to woo voters, all of the candidates hurled epithets at as many political,
governmental, or social organizations they could. Accusations against government bodies, officials and candidates were more
unrestrained than proven. And as an unfortunate aftermath, Mexico’s first truly democratic electoral process was discredited.
No element of government was spared. Fox’s executive branch was undoubtedly the hardest hit,
but legislators were also vilified while the judiciary was tagged for alleged corrupt underhandedness.
In the process labor and teachers’ unions were swept into the melee, and business groups were
harassed and discredited.
Perhaps political parties were deservingly chastised most with Mexican’s wrath and disapproval.
After all, they nominated their candidates who were expected to be the best and the brightest – but after months of
constant campaign accusations, scandals and discrediting many Mexicans sadly concluded they were not the finest.
Yet Mexico managed to hold national elections and show that there is the flicker of democratic light
in its people.
The first challenge the president-elect of Mexico faces will be one that is difficult but indispensable.
He must directly and promptly mend fences, while attempting an inclusive alignment with political adversaries.
A serious effort must be made to salvage all of the political, economic and social institutions
whose credibility has been seriously questioned for political purposes.
The country must also act to patch up its image abroad. It’s no secret that election jitters
discouraged numerous foreign investments, hurting development, growth and job creation.
Mexico’s six-year-long legislative gridlock must be ended immediately. The nation cannot afford
to continue with a stagnant partisanship, as it watches opportunities slip by while being relegated anew to Third World status.
Without a clear congressional majority, the new president must appreciate that coalitions and collaboration will be the only
ways to build and rebuild the United Mexican States.
The new government must also rid itself of the institutionalized corruption apparatuses. These being part of an ingrained culture with groups and individuals who surreptitiously infiltrate government,
and then wait patiently for their opportunities to safely yet inhumanly pounce on the public.
Most of all, Mexico’s new president must be willing to act responsibly and recognize
that though he is President, his margin of victory was a meager one which thusly may not provide the mandate needed for Mexico’s
rebuilding. So he must extend a firm and honest hand in order to govern, mend rifts, amend divergences and move forward.
Carlos Luken,
a MexiData.info columnist, is a Mexico-based businessman and consultant. He can
be reached via e-mail at ilcmex@yahoo.com.
