Change Ahead with the Mexican Presidential Election 2018

Change Ahead with the Mexican Presidential Election 2018  

Tara A. Spears – Nayarit Editor

While most people planning to visit Mexico only want to think about things to do rather than politics, at least be aware that there is a presidential election in two weeks. The right –or wrong, think USA- candidate can immensely impact the desirability of any country for tourism. A change in political party could affect visas and the overall economy which directly impacts your vacation.

Please note that Mexican Federal law closes alcohol sales nationwide for the federal election. Plan ahead and stock up before then! This is quoted from the government website: “The Dry Law prohibits the sale of alcohol or alcoholic beverages for at least 24 hours before and during the whole Electoral Day.” In 2018 that means no cocktails to go with dinner in a restaurant or containers sold in the grocery stores during Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1.

“This law applies to wineries, restaurants, supermarkets and grocery stores. No alcohol sales in places like fairs, tianguis, or nightclubs, etc. If any of these establishments come to violate the law, it is grounds for closure of the business.”  Don’t try to pressure your fav watering hole into serving you, the penalty is too steep.  Now that you’re prepared for the election weekend, let’s take a quick look at the presidential candidates.

The outgoing president and current administration of Enrique Peña Nieto instituted free-market reforms to the energy and fiscal sectors under a plan called the Pacto por México. Over time, this plan has become very unpopular, as has the president.  Pena Nieto’s approval ratings have fallen to 12 percent. Corruption scandals hastened his fall from grace. During the campaigning the contempt that most of Mexico feels toward the established political order can be measured by the rising pitch of angry shouts and jeers at rallies.                    

Andrés Manuel López Obrador, known as AMLO, is the Mexican’s anti-Trump, has a 20-point lead in the polls.  AMLO is the former Mexico City mayor who is making his third go at the presidency, this time as the candidate for the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA). Frequently framed as leftist, MORENA allied itself not only with the Labor Party (PT), but also with the Social Encounter Party (PES), led by religious conservatives.

Some foreign political commentary describes Lopez’s rise as “the most consequential political development here since the Mexican Revolution that began in 1910.” (Bloomberg)   López Obrador ended his mayorial term in 2005 with approval ratings near 80 percent. his platform promices: Guaranteeing crop payments for farmers, freezing gasoline prices in real terms, crimping foreign participation in Mexico’s oil and gas industry, boosting pension benefits, and generally expanding the state’s economic role. AMLO’s utopia comes with a string, however: for this chain of prosperity to kick in, the voters must strike an electoral deathblow against the ruling political class in all the other senate and government openings.

One of the major campaign issues concerns the escalating tide of murder. López Obrador’s own proposal of amnesty for certain criminals as an attempt to start a dialogue and stop the cycles of violence is a revisit to what was the government policy for decades.

According to Forbes, Jose Meade Kuribreña from Nieto’s Institutional Revolution Party has a low following. Choosing a PRI affiliation was almost a given in the 20th century; the party maintained a stranglehold on national politics, occupying the presidency from 1929 to 2000. Present day voters consider PRI (and PAN) to be corrupt which enables AMLO to steamroll over their candidates.

Ricardo Anaya Cortés is the candidate from the National Action Party, or PAN, of which ex-president Vicente Fox was a member.  PAN’s Anaya is AMLO’s pragmatic cousin. This political party is traditionally pro-business, non-ideological party that claims to be focused on fighting corruption and violence. They are also in favor of a universal basic income system and improving education.

The last presidential candidate, Jaime Rodríguez, is running on an independent party ticket. He has been the governor of Nuevo León. In the televised candidate debate, Rodriguez suggested he’d combat crime and corruption by cutting off the hands of thieves; but otherwise not anything significantly different planned for his administration if elected.

Our Mexican friends and neighbors continue to debate the merits of each candidate and hope for a brighter future. Lo que será, sera, what will be will be. While the election results and the forthcoming policy changes are unknown, one thing is certain. No matter who holds the political reins,  the heart and strong spirit of the people will continue.