Commentary : Perspectives on the Colosio Assassination : Violence Is a Setback, but Progress Is Real : Forge A Triumph of Light Out of Dark Tragedy

This violent episode should not obscure or distort what has been happening in Mexico in recent years. During the past generation--and especially during the presidency of Carlos Salinas de Gortari--Mexico’s modernization has been impressive and mostly heartening. Mexico’s economy and society have been transformed as industry and agriculture, entrepreneurs and workers have all been forced to become more competitive. Much remains to be done to improve Mexico’s economy--particularly to overcome gross inequities and alleviate dire poverty. The next president will also face the challenges of expanding domestic markets, reducing trade imbalances, improving rates of national investment and attracting more international capital. But Mexico’s economic progress in recent years has been very significant.

By the same token, Mexico’s governance has lagged behind. Eighty years after a revolution fought on the slogan, “Effective suffrage,” Mexico in 1994 is still very far from achieving truly effective suffrage and equal justice under law throughout the national territory. January’s uprising in Chiapas and the strong national sympathy it has evoked underline these hard facts.

In significant part because of Chiapas, Mexico’s government and political parties have been moving toward substantial political reforms to assure tranparent and fair elections and to rebuild the legitimacy of Mexico’s political system. These measures were embraced by Luis Colosio, whose support was decisive in moving them from wish lists to negotiated agreements. There would be no more fitting tribute to Colosio and no more valuable legacy for Salinas than to reinforce and implement these political reforms.