Similar but different Mexico’s political parties, interest groups, and media all work to link Mexican citizens to their government During the PRI era.
Download
Report
Transcript Similar but different Mexico’s political parties, interest groups, and media all work to link Mexican citizens to their government During the PRI era.
Similar but different
Mexico’s political parties, interest groups, and
media all work to link Mexican citizens to their
government
During the PRI era all of this took place under the
authority of the PRI party so a true civil society did
not exist
As democratization began and civil society began to
develop, these structures were already in place, so
activating democracy was easier than it would have
been otherwise
Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI)
National Action Party (PAN)
Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD)
In power from 1920-2000
Founded by coalition of elites led by President Calles
Originally elites agreed to trade favors and pass around power from one
cacique to another (Sexenio)
Corporatist structure – interest groups woven into the structure of
the party. Party has ultimate authority, but other voices heard by bringing
interest groups under the umbrella of the party. Structure is not democratic, but
allows for more input into government than other types of authoritarianism.
Particularly since Cardenas peasant and labor organizations have been
represented in the party and hold positions of responsibility
Patron-client system – party traditionally gets its support from rural
areas where patron-client system is still in control. Patron-client system allowed
the PRI to remain in control of Mexicans as long as majority of population was
rural-based, this began to change in the late 1980s
Supporters are more rural, less educated and older
Founded in 1939
Represents business interests opposed to centralization and
anti-clericalism
PAN support strongest in the north
PAN generally considered PRI’s opposition to the Right
PAN candidate Vicente Fox won 2000 presidential election,
Felipe Calderon won 2006 election
Platform
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
Regional autonomy
Less government intervention in the economy
Clean & fair elections
Good rapport with Catholic Church
Support for private and religious education
Supporters are urban, middle class, wealthy
PRD considered PRI’s opposition to the Left
Presidential candidate in 1988 & 1994 was Cuahtemoc Cardenas
(son of Lazaro Cardenas)
▪ He was ejected from the PRI for demanding reform that emphasized social
justice and populism
▪ In 1988 Cardenas won 31.1% of the official vote, and PRD captured 139 seats in
the Chamber of Deputies (500 total)
▪ Many believe had it been an honest election Cardenas would have won
PRD has been plagued by poor organization, lack of charismatic
leadership, and most importantly the lack of an economic
alternative to the market-oriented policies of the PRI & PAN (a
more socialist party)
Andres Lopez Obrador, former mayor of Mexico City, was the PRD
candidate for president in the 2006 election. He lost by a slim
margin to Calderon (PAN)
Supporters are working class, younger, better educated, active
Andrés Manuel López Obrador was the presidential candidate
After the general election of July 2 , and after a recount of only
9.09% of all the ballot tally sheets, the Federal Electoral Institute
recorded the vote results in favor of Felipe Calderón (PAN party)
by a margin of 0.58 percent (Bush/Gore was .0092%)
PRD claims that there was election fraud which were rejected by
the Federal Electoral Tribunal (TEPJF) and certified Calderón as
the winner
The PRD called for demonstrations and set up camps in the
capital's main square blocking one of its main avenues (Paseo de
la Reforma) to ask for a recount of all votes.
The camps were later dismantled and Obrador was declared
"Legitimate President" by his followers; he does not recognize
the legitimacy of Calderón.
Citizens in Mexico directly elect the president, Chamber of Deputy
Representatives, and Senators as well as most local & state officials
Elections are generally competitive, specifically in urban areas
Members of congress elected through dual system of “first-past-the-post” and
proportional representation
▪ Proportional representation was increased in a major reform law in 1986, a
change that gave power to political parties that challenged PRI control
Each of Mexico’s 31 states elects three senators, 2 are determined by majority
vote, the other is determined by whichever party receives the second highest
number of votes
32 senate seats are determined nationally through a system of proportional
representation that divides the seats according to the number of votes cast for
each party (128 Senate seats in total)
In the Chamber of Deputies, 300 seats are determined by plurality within singlemember districts, and 200 are chosen by proportional representation
PRI – small town or rural, less educated, older, poorer
PAN – from the north, middle-class professional or
business, urban, better educated (at least high school, some
college) religious (or those less strict regarding separation of
church & state)
PRD – younger, politically active, from the central states,
some education, small town or urban
PAN/PRD candidate Vicente Fox won presidency (43% of the
vote compared to 36% garnered for PRI candidate Francisco
Labastida)
PAN captured 208 of 500 deputies in lower house
PRI captured 209 deputy seats in the lower house
PAN won 46 senate seats; PRI won 60 senate seats
New, competitive election system has encouraged coalitions
to form to the right & left of the PRI
Split in votes has encourage gridlock, phenomenon unknown
to Mexico under the old PRI-controlled governments
Corporatist structure allowed for accommodation of interest group (a system
where government is dominated by representative groups within society
Business Interests – networked with political leaders to protect the growth of
commerce, finance, industry, and agriculture
Labor – accommodated within system, wage levels for union workers increased
from 1940-1982, until economic crisis of lowering oil prices caused wages to
drop. Power of union bosses has decreased as unions weaken and members
become more independent
Rural/Peasant Organizations – encouraged under PRI through the ejido system
that granted land from the government to these organizations. Since 1980s
groups have demanded greater independence from the government, and
supported movements for better prices for crops, and access to markets and
credit. Joined with other groups to promote better education, health services,
and environmental practices
Urban/Popular Movements – concerned about social welfare spending, city
services, neighborhood improvement, economic development, feminism, and
professional identity. As groups become more independent and grow in strength
the government and political system must negotiate with them, and in doing so
transform the political culture
Part of the patron-client system under the PRI, with rewards
and favors doled out in return for political support
Have become more independent as PRI-political structure
has been reorganized
Many Mexicans have access to international newspapers,
magazines, CNN and the BBC
“Toallagate” Scandal – overpriced towels at President Fox’s mansion
Mexico is a federal republic, though state and local
governments have little independent power and few
resources
Executive branch has held majority of the power historically
Legislative & Judicial branch followed the executive’s lead,
rubber-stamping most presidential decisions
Mexico has traditionally been an authoritarian and
corporatist regime
Center of policy-making
Sexenio: non-renewable six-year term (Under PRI similar to dictator)
▪ Selected successor
▪ Appointed officials to all positions of power in the government
▪ Named PRI candidates for other public offices
▪ A lot of turnover at the in the executive branch
Until mid-1970s Mexican presidents were above criticism and people revered
them as symbols of national progress and well-being
▪ Managed huge patronage system-president at top of hierarchy
▪ Control over “rubber-stamp” Congress
President Ernesto Zedillo (1994-2000) –relinquished number of traditional
powers of the president, including naming the PRI candidate for the 2000
election
President Fox inherited the presidency in a time of transition
▪ President still viewed as all powerful, but blamed for shortcomings
▪ Harder for Fox to accomplish political goals without strong party support in
the post-PRI Congress
Powers of President
Initiate legislation
In charge of foreign policy
Create government agencies
Issues decrees and regulations with force of law
(Similarities to US) (trends?)
About 1.5 million people employed by federal government (Most in
Mexico City)
High & Middle level officials have a good deal of power
Civil servants work for patrons more than the state-the staff will follow minister when
gets a new job
Under PRI corruption and bribes quite common amongst officials in the
bureaucracy
Parastatal Sector – semiautonomous government agencies that often
produce goods & services
PEMEX (state owned petroleum company)
After 1980’s oil bust reforms cut the number of para-statals, and many are
now privately owned
President Fox tried unsuccessfully to privatize PEMEX
Bicameral
▪ Chamber of Deputies (500-member)
300 deputies from single-member districts (plurality)
200 deputies chosen by proportional representation
▪ Senate (128-member)
3 senators from each of the 31 states & the federal district(96)
Remaining 32 selected by proportional representation
All legislators directly elected-members can’t serve consecutive terms
Election held every three years
Until 1980s legislature remained under strict control of the president
PRI’s lost hold on legislature earlier than it did on the presidency
Lost majority in the Chamber of Deputies in 1997
Women in both houses has risen significantly since 1996 election law
required parties to sponsor female candidates
▪ Parties must run at least 30% female candidates for proportional representation and
single-member district elections
▪ 113 of 500 deputies in Chamber are female
▪ 20 of 128 Senators are also female
31 states and federal district
Depend on federal government for funding
Patronage very important
The Breakdown of the PRI has hurt these
networks
Attempts to reform the system have been
thwarted by government agencies and the
governors who retain control of the money when
it is given to the states
Strong judicial branch necessary for a country to operate on the “Rule of
Law”
Mexico does not have an independent judiciary or judicial review system
Most laws are federal, limiting the authority of state courts
Much more dependent on written law than precedence
Supreme Court
▪ On paper has judicial review, but it never overrules important government
policy or actions
▪ Historically has been controlled by the executive branch
▪ Judges appointed for life, but in practice resigned at the beginning of each
sexenio
▪ President Ernesto Zedillo (1994-2000) attempted to strengthen courts by
emphasizing the rule of law, he refused to interfere with court judgments
and President Fox continued this policy
▪ Fox tried to work for an independent judiciary but seems to have come up
short on this endeavor
Dominated Mexican political life into the early 20th century
PRI dramatically cutback the political power of generals (even former military
generals who became presidents acted to separate the military from politics)
▪ Calles and Cardenas de-politicized the military
▪ Continually moved generals to different regions of the country not allowing
them to develop a regional base of power
▪ Presidents traded favors with military officers to allow them economic
power, if not political power
Government control of the military one of PRI’s most important
accomplishments
Strong ties between military officers and drug barons
▪ Military heavily involved in drug-enforcement
▪ Patron-client system of favors and loyalty has led some military officers to
accept money from drug lords in return for allegiance and security
▪ General Jesus Gutierrez Rebollo (Head of anti-drug task force) arrested in
1997 on accusations of protecting a drug lord
Economy
“Mexican Miracle”
▪
▪
▪
▪
1940-1960 economy grew more than 6% per year
Industrial production up nearly 9% per year during 1960s
Agricultural share of production down: 25% to 11%
Manufacturing share of production up: 25% to 34%
Problems
▪ Growing gap between rich & poor
▪ Rapid/Unplanned Urbanization
Debt Crisis
▪ Mexican government borrowed heavily in order to
industrialize
▪ Most of the economic growth based on oil economy
▪ Oil plummet in 1982, caused Mexican economy to plummet as
well
▪ 1987, Mexico over $107 billion in debt, debt represented 70%
of GNP
Reform
▪ Begun by President Miguel de la Madrid in 1982, continued by presidents
Salinas & Zedillo (the tecnicos)
Sharp cuts in Government Spending – according to agreements with the
IMF, World Bank, and the U.S. Mexico greatly reduced government spending by
eliminating public enterprises, cutting government subsidies, and cutting
hundreds of thousands of public jobs
Debt Reduction – with assistance from U.S. the Mexican government reached
agreement to reduce interest rates on loans and allow for more lenient
repayment plans. Mexico still pays on average about $10 billion a year on loan
interests
Privatization – many government industries were privatized, in 1990 President
Salinas returned the banks to the private sector. Special laws like duty-free
importing of components and cheap labor led foreign companies to invest in
Mexican manufacturing plants
▪ Between 2001 and 2003 Mexico economy suffered from the postSeptember 11 U.S. recession. In 2004, the economy grew by 4.1% but an
estimated 40% of the Mexican population still lived below the poverty
line
GATT/WTO – in 1986 Mexico joined the General Agreement on
Tariffs and Trade, the precursor to the World Trade Organization
NAFTA – economics still dominates even in terms of foreign policy
Has brought more transparency to Mexican politics and economics
Immigration & Drug Trafficking – America still the key
focus for Mexican foreign policy
Communication Technology has made Mexico’s
problems more global (Zapatista Movement)
Election Reform
▪ CFE (Federal Election Reform) – created as an independent
regulatory body to safeguard honest and accurate election
results
▪ Campaign Finance Restriction – laws that limit campaign
contributions
▪ International Watch Teams – so Mexico could convince other
countries that elections are fair and competitive
▪ Election monitoring – done by opposition party members