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 Editorials | Opinions | April 2005 
Political Indignation In Mexico Could Make A Woman President
 Carlos Luken - MexiData.info
| | Josefina Vázquez Mota |
Following the initial elation from Vicente Fox’s triumph in the 2000 presidential elections, and as the country found deliverance from a 71-year-long Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) stranglehold on all government activities, most Mexicans ingenuously dreamed that change would be automatic. This after having participated enthusiastically in the Fox campaign, whereas immediately thereafter they withdrew and turned over everything to professional politicians and their parties.
Perhaps the major consequences have been a crumbling of hope in the democratic process, and a near total loss of credibility in most politicians and conventional forms of politics. A loss of faith that has regrettably led to cynicism in some, but also to serious soul-searching among others who refuse to give up.
As such, many constituents are now looking for new principled leaders with ideals that can bring back democratic expectations and enthusiasm.
The recent impeachment of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) mayor of Mexico City, was disappointingly received. Aggravating matters, the left has given rebirth to a “selective justice” conspiracy theory, calling any and all legal actions against the mayor politically motivated and an attempt to prevent his candidacy in 2006, which has polarized the country.
There is a disconcerting atmosphere of disappointment and skepticism, and hopefuls with their hats in the ring are viewed with misgivings.
Roberto Madrazo of the PRI may be the most suspect, as he has managed to outmaneuver his opponents through public feuds and accusations that have led to confrontations.
PRD frontrunner Lopez Obrador, although leading in many opinion polls, has lost his shine by exposing himself to scandals, showing his radicalism and through his claimed conspiracy outcries. Too, his activist mobilizations may scare some into rethinking their support.
The PAN is doing no better. After a divisive election for party president declared contenders Felipe Calderon and Francisco Barrio demanded the resignation of Santiago Creel as Secretary of Government, this due to his advantage by being the head of Mexico’s internal politics.
Accordingly, some constituents are now changing their points of view and this may bring nontraditional political preferences into play.
In other words, as the images of male political pretenders weaken Mexican voters may turn to women as a genuine alternative — which could and would represent a previously unthinkable gender revolution.
According to INEGI, Mexico’s national statistics institute, as of the census year 2000 Mexican women outnumbered men by a margin of 51.2 percent to 48.7 percent. Additionally, 61.1 percent of the Mexican population is under 30 years of age, with the number of women registering for college far outnumbering the total of men.
Moreover, with increased migration and resulting declines in male population in states like Zacatecas and Michoacan, women have taken over and become the heads of families. Interestingly too, their immigrant husbands who have been exposed to a different lifestyle do not challenge this new position.
These tendencies may produce important collective shifts from Mexico’s previous machismo culture to a more equalitarian society, with gender acceptance and respect.
In 2003 I wrote a column titled “Is everyone ready for a woman president?,” wherein I also noted: “Just a generation ago, this question wouldn’t have even been asked (much less answered). And the fact that it is now taken seriously reflects a palpable turn in Mexican society.”
At that time Mexico had possible female choices in all major parties, yet several women politicians have since faded.
The most distressing casualty was Rosario Robles of the PRD, who managed to demolish her possibilities by linking herself to one of Lopez Obrador’s worse corruption scandals, through among other things an alleged romantic involvement with now imprisoned businessman Carlos Ahumada.
Elba Esther Gordillo, of the PRI, lost all chances for party support by openly feuding with her congressional leader while serving in the Chamber of Deputies, and also with party president Madrazo. Those moves have also pushed her towards the possibility of leaving the PRI to form her own party.
Another PRI possibility, Beatriz Paredes, simply bowed to political pressures and supported Madrazo.
Marta Sahagun, Mexico’s first lady and a member of the PAN, has successfully extricated herself from several politically motivated scandals. At present however, she has taken herself out of the presidential candidate race supposedly to seek her party’s 2006 nomination to run for mayor of Mexico City.
Thus Fox’s Secretary of Social Development, Josefina Vazquez Mota, seems to be the likely PAN possibility.
But will Mexicans take the step?
Carlos Luken, a MexiData.info columnist, is a Mexico-based businessman and consultant. He can be reached via e-mail at ilcmex@yahoo.com. |
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