Democracy Thrives Next Door

Last week, in a spirited presidential debate in Mexico City, six candidates exchanged barbs, views and proposals on the future of Mexico, an amazing change for a political system that a few years back was as predictable as a sunrise.

For more than 70 years under the dominance of the Institutional Party of the Revolution, or PRI, the next Mexican president was chosen by a single vote, that of the sitting Mexican president. The system was the Mexican version of the American smoke-filled room.

Now that practice is gone. The decision on who will be the next president of Mexico will be decided by a popular vote July 2. The field is wide open. In its first ever primary election, the PRI chose Francisco Labastida, a former cabinet secretary, governor and ambassador, as its candidate.

Opposing Labastida are Vicente Fox of the center-right National Action Party, or PAN, Cuauhtemoc Cardenas of the center-left Party of the Democratic Revolution, or PRD, and three minor candidates.

Not too long ago the PAN and PRD had few or no elected representatives in federal, state and local offices. Now, combined, they govern more Mexicans than the PRI, a remarkable change brought on largely by the PRI’s abuses and the democratic values taking root in Mexico.

Protections in place to assure a clean election July 2 are stringent. To vote, citizens must show an ID with their photo, which is compared to their photo on the official list of registered voters. At the end of the process, an independent electoral tribunal will settle any disputes.

Mexico’s last presidential election drew an estimated 77% of the electorate to the polls. The implications for the United States are obvious. A well-ordered Mexican election is assurance of a continually strengthening democracy next door.