For 71 years, Mexico stood as a one-party state under the authoritarian regime, known as the PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party). Founded in 1929 by former president Plutarco Elias Calles, the PRI was reelected every 6 years, by a large margin, and maintained power up until the 2000 election, where PRI president Ernesto Zedillo handed power to Vincent Fox, a democratic president that allowed for Mexico to abolish their autocratic government. So, if the PRI was known as an autocracy, how were they able to hold power – and have a unified government – for over 7 decades?
For starters, to ensure a win in each election, the PRI would fake votes. But, the PRI did truly have supporters; however, these were gained through manipulation and bribery. For instance, the PRI would provide groups and legislation that favored class or another organization in exchange for political loyalty. Therefore, citizens would continuously vote for the party, afraid of the benefits and help that they would lose if they didn’t.
Furthermore, they were able to control much of the media, which not only means shutting down any negative news or reports about them, but they were also able to advertise their own party and share the “good” policies and welfare that they were providing towards Mexico. Another way that they were able to appear as a non-corrupt and democratic party was through co-optation. Meaning, any reform movements would be monitored by the government, and even claimed by the government to show that they were listening to their people and giving them the opportunity to protest.
Through these things, the PRI was able to create a one-party system that continuously won elections. Due to this hold on power, they were able to scheme, within and out of the government, and they were able to slowly obtain more power, changing what people thought would be a democracy into an autocracy. During the 2000 election, though, the PRI somehow lost their grip on power.
The largest reason that the PRI lost popularity that they couldn’t gain back was due to Mexico’s economic crisis. In 1994, the value of the peso began to decline rapidly, which put Mexico in much debt and almost broke down most of their economy. What’s worse? They weren’t able to stabilize their economy. Mexico only made it out of the financial crisis due to a $50 million stabilizer given to them by the United States.
Then, Ernesto Zedillo, the president of Mexico from 1994-2000, produced many reforms, despite being a PRI member, which made it possible for Mexico to blossom as a democracy. Zedillo became extremely favored through his reforms which essentially decreased the power of the executive, allowing for a more balanced government. He also reduced the presidential discretionary account, which was a shock as it showed that he didn’t use his power for political gain, bribery through money, and corrupt actions that could be covered up with cash. Zedillo also imposed election safeguards, one major reason that the PRI was unable to scheme during the 2000 election.
Ultimately, the fall of the PRI gave Mexicans hope for a democracy, where they would not be suppressed, and the government would truly work for the people. This is not quite something that Mexico has attained yet, even after 24 years, but the fall of the PRI was progress for the Mexican government that couldn’t be erased or undermined.
__
Breeley Moll
Rogers, AR
11th Grade
Instagram: @breeley0212
コメント