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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | September 2006 
Calderón Reveals Governance Plan
 Wire services - El Universal
| | Mexico's President Vicente Fox (L) speaks with Felipe Calderon, Mexico's president elect at the presidential residence Los Pinos in Mexico City September 21, 2006. Calderon takes presidential office on December 1. (Reuters/Daniel Aguilar) |
President-elect Felipe Calderón promised Thursday he would "work tirelessly" to construct a nation of equal opportunities and thanked outgoing President Vicente Fox for laying the groundwork for that goal.
Calderón´s declarations followed his second public appearance with Fox at the presidential residence, Los Pinos, since the Federal Electoral Tribunal confirmed him as the country´s new leader earlier this month. He takes office on Dec. 1.
The former energy secretary was not Fox´s first choice for the job but received his blessing after he won their conservative party´s primary.
Leftist candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador alleges that Fox´s insistent, partisan support for Calderón violated fair- campaign laws and was among the reasons for Calderón´s victory on July 2 by a margin of less than 0.6 percent.
A transition team of Calderón advisers has met with members of Fox´s Cabinet every Monday for several weeks to review "the principal challenges" ahead, the president-elect said.
"I know there is a lot left to do," Calderón said. But he added that Fox´s achievements over the past six years "will allow us to move forward over much more solid foundations in all areas of the federal government."
Meanwhile, López Obrador supporters protested in front of the national Televisa television network on Thursday, accusing the network of bias in favor of Calderón.
Lacking a strong mandate, and faced with his rival´s still- strong popularity, Calderón has vowed to beat the former Mexico City mayor at his own game and implement social policies to help the poor.
"We will work tirelessly to generate and strengthen the conditions that make Mexico a country equal in opportunities, with well-paid jobs and an environment free of violence and insecurity," the 44-year-old lawyer and former congressman said Thursday.
Reaching out to those who voted against him, Calderón vowed "to find common ground" and tackle the problems "of a Mexico that demands solutions beyond our differences."
Looking stiff and uncomfortable following their first meeting, the 6-foot-5 Fox and his much shorter successor appeared to be more at ease Thursday as they strolled together down a walkway on the grounds of Los Pinos after their joint news conference.
Also Thursday, telecommunications magnate Carlos Slim, ranked by Forbes magazine as the world´s third-wealthiest man, was quoted by Mexican news media as saying that he supports some of Calderón´s proposals, including plans to generate employment to combat the poverty that affects 40 million of Mexico´s 103 million people.
Slim, speaking at a Forbes business forum in Mexico City on Wednesday, also lamented that supporters of López Obrador were becoming more radical, summing up their action as "Kafkian" and "Mexican craziness." |
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