The New York Times reports that the losing populist candidate of the PRD party, Andrés López Obrador, declared himself the “legitimate president of Mexico” despite the fact that Felipe Calderón of the PAN party won the elections.
Appearing on a stage in the historic Constitution Plaza, with Mexican flags and an enormous eagle banner behind him, Mr. López Obrador promised to goad the government of the president-elect, Felipe Calderón, a conservative from the National Action Party of President Vicente Fox, into adopting his proposals.
About 100,000 people crowded into the square and roared with approval when a copy of the traditional green, white and red presidential banner was placed across his chest.“We are assembled here to confront a fraudulent election,” he said, “and to take on a regime of corruption and privileges, to start the construction of a new republic.”
Reading this article I could not think of any better evidence of the state of democratic institutions in Mexico. Fox’s election as president marked the beginning of a new era of democratic rule in Mexico after decades of authoritarian rule by the PRI party. However, recent events such as the “pseudo presidential inauguration” show that democratic institutions are not yet deeply rooted in the country. It will be hard for Mexico to continue the process of building a democratic country unless politicians truly respect the rules of the democratic process.
Published Date: November 27, 2006