No-Lose Elections

During his six years in office, the president of Mexico wields powers almost as absolute as those seized by Omar Torrijos or his pal Fidel Castro, the New World’s Communist Caligula. Besides, Mexican presidents have a lot more to work with. After all, Mexico is the world’s tenth most populous nation, and it has more natural resources than West Germany and Japan combined.

Mexico’s chief executive hand-picks the members of both houses of the national legislature, the governor and lesser officials of the 31 states, and the mayors of cities big enough to bother with. The candidates he chooses are infallibly elected by the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), which hasn’t lost an election, or at least an election count, of any consequence in the last half-century.

CU

About the Author

Carlos Untel

Featured Tags

During his six years in office, the president of Mexico wields powers almost as absolute as those seized by Omar Torrijos or his pal Fidel Castro, the New World’s Communist Caligula. Besides, Mexican presidents have a lot more to work with. After all, Mexico is the world’s tenth most populous nation, and it has more natural resources than West Germany and Japan combined.

Mexico’s chief executive hand-picks the members of both houses of the national legislature, the governor and lesser officials of the 31 states, and the mayors of cities big enough to bother with. The candidates he chooses are infallibly elected by the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), which hasn’t lost an election, or at least an election count, of any consequence in the last half-century.