Mexican President Elected by Fraud, Helms Charges

Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) charged today that Mexican President Miguel de la Madrid was fraudulently elected in 1982 and said the Mexican government maintains “a double set of books--one public, one private.”

Helms said Mexican sources had given him documents showing that De la Madrid, proclaimed the winner with 71.2% of the vote, actually received only 39.8%. He did not identify the sources.

Such fraud, Helms maintained at a congressional hearing, was intended to perpetuate the 58-year rule of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI.

The hearing was the third Helms has conducted in which he has accused Mexico’s government of corruption and fraud.

Helms also said publicly announced figures for legislative elections in 1985 show that the ruling PRI won 71.1% of the votes while a rightist coalition won 18.2% and a leftist coalition took 6%.

Actually, Helms asserted, the PRI won only 48% of the vote, with the rightists taking 36.4% and the leftist coalition 10.4%.

“I’m well aware the Mexican government is going to deny it engages in double bookkeeping,” said Helms, who challenged the Mexican government “to open up the election process to international review and inspection.”

Helms said sources had given him documents from the presidential election that amount to “a double set of books--one public, one private.”

The documents made available by Helms were typed compilations of the purported election results and not copies of government documents.

Charges of fraud in the 1982 and 1985 elections are not new.