POLITICS IN MEXICO LUIS ESTRADA Spring quarter 2005

Governorships (May 2005)

Electoral Conflicts Throughout the PRI dominance, pervasive fraud Throughout the PRI dominance, pervasive fraud 1988: Auto-validation of the election for president, representatives, and senators 1988: Auto-validation of the election for president, representatives, and senators “Concertacesiones”: Winning public offices promising support for future reforms (PAN-PRI during Salinas’ term) “Concertacesiones”: Winning public offices promising support for future reforms (PAN-PRI during Salinas’ term) PRD always claimed fraud: PRI’s incentive to perform it anyway PRD always claimed fraud: PRI’s incentive to perform it anyway Since 1994 all conflicts are institutionalized and solved legally Since 1994 all conflicts are institutionalized and solved legally

Electoral Authorities: IFE 1964: Party Deputies 1964: Party Deputies 1977: PR increased to : PR increased to : Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) (formerly Federal Electoral Commission) 1990: Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) (formerly Federal Electoral Commission) 1994: ‘Citizen’ Counselors (majority) 1994: ‘Citizen’ Counselors (majority) 1996: ‘Electoral’ Counselors (totality) 1996: ‘Electoral’ Counselors (totality)

Electoral Authorities: IFE Counselors elected for seven years by a majority of the Chamber of Deputies Counselors elected for seven years by a majority of the Chamber of Deputies Organize and regulate elections and campaigns Organize and regulate elections and campaigns Create and maintain the Voter Registration List Create and maintain the Voter Registration List Authorize new parties to participate Authorize new parties to participate Provide funding for registered parties Provide funding for registered parties 2000 budget: 1 billion dollars 2000 budget: 1 billion dollars

Electoral Authorities: TRIFE Federal Electoral Tribunal Federal Electoral Tribunal Maximum authority to solve electoral conflicts (electoral disputes, political rights, confirm electoral victories) Maximum authority to solve electoral conflicts (electoral disputes, political rights, confirm electoral victories) Seven electoral justices Seven electoral justices Designate lower electoral courts Designate lower electoral courts

Institutions: Army Why not a military coup as in other Latin American countries? Mexican Revolution: low profile Why not a military coup as in other Latin American countries? Mexican Revolution: low profile Usage of the military forces: vs drug- trafficking or natural disasters, as police Usage of the military forces: vs drug- trafficking or natural disasters, as police Lower classes enroll in the military (grant for life; servicio militar ‘obligatorio’) Lower classes enroll in the military (grant for life; servicio militar ‘obligatorio’) The most trusted political institution The most trusted political institution

The Church 2000 Census: 89.7% are Catholic 2000 Census: 89.7% are Catholic Historical influence, to protect the least wealthy Historical influence, to protect the least wealthy 1857 Liberal Reform-separation Church-State 1857 Liberal Reform-separation Church-State Attacked early 1920s (Cristero rebellion) Attacked early 1920s (Cristero rebellion) Today: Priests have political rights, and even make public their political stances Today: Priests have political rights, and even make public their political stances Source of conservatism of most Mexicans (double- standard) Source of conservatism of most Mexicans (double- standard)