After a six-week long controversy, conservative Felipe Calderon was finally declared the winner of the Mexican presidential election by Mexico’s top electoral court after the nation’s fiercely contested election. The Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) initially called the election in favor of Calderon, but the difference between Calderon and the runner-up Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was less than a third of a percent, and therefore, the IFE had to manually complete a hand-count of the ballet, and gave the final jurisdiction in the hands of a Federal Election Tribunal.
In a statement released Tuesday September 12, 2006, Mexico’s Federal Electoral Tribunal said Calderon won the most votes in the July 2 election, narrowly beating PRD leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopes Obrador (popularly known as AMLO). Under Mexican law, the tribunal’s ruling cannot be appealed. Its final the PAN won.
Lopez Obrador and his supporters had challenged the preliminary results. They claimed massive voter fraud, and had affirmed not to concede defeat.
Leaders of three Mexican political parties formed a coalition to oppose President-elect Felipe Calderon in Congress, a move that will make it tougher for him to push through his legislative agenda. The opposition coalition will probably remain united against Calderon for at least a year before weakening as mid-term elections approach in 2009.
The election and claims of fraud have divided Mexico. They represent a serious challenge to the country’s fragile democracy; just six years after President Vicente Fox’s dramatic victory ended decades on one-party domination rule “The PRI.”
“We’re never going to negotiate with Calderon because he’s an illegitimate president,” said Jesus Ortega, Lopez Obrador’s campaign manager and former senator. He also added, “We’re going to be in the streets as well as in Congress.”
The Mexican presidential election has a special historical importance; this the first time the PRI is not a factor, this is the first time the PRI is not part of the Mexican presidential controversy. The PRI has officially been marginalized. Roberto Madrazo was the PRI Party candidate…this party controlled Mexican politics for decades.
Calderon a member of outgoing President Vicente Fox’s National Action Party (PAN) received much of the vote from the industrial, richer north, which has benefited by Fox’s free-trade policies. Most voters in the rural south and in Mexico City supported Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Calderon, 44, has promised to turn his attention to Mexico’s poor. “If something demands urgent action … it is taking care of millions of families who still live in poverty,” Calderon said in a speech after the courts affirmed his victory.
Mexico’s new president-elect will take office December 1, when Vicente Fox steps down of his six-year one-term (One-Term-Limit).