Presidential elections in Mexico are happening today

[flez007]

Looks like we are going to have a calmed and civilized elections like the last several years - we are electing a new President (6 years no-reelction), several state governors, local authorities and congress representation. 40 million peoplo voting, 20% will be there for the first time in their lives.

Parties are quite equal accirding to the latest polls, this is as you know a very diverse country with challenges ahead like social disparity, education, health ans security/ law enforcement issues.

[Mike]

Looks like we are going to have a calmed and civilized elections like the last several years - we are electing a new President (6 years no-reelction), several state governors, local authorities and congress representation. 40 million peoplo voting, 20% will be there for the first time in their lives.

Parties are quite equal accirding to the latest polls, this is as you know a very diverse country with challenges ahead like social disparity, education, health ans security/ law enforcement issues.

Excuse my ignorance, but are there Conservative, Socialist, Communist, Liberal Democrats, etc. parties, like in European countries, or is jusy liberal right and extreme right, like in the U.S.?

[JackD201]

How's that telenovela looking Governor of Mexico Province doing in the polls?

Flez, the similarities between Mexico's and the Philippines' political histories are so,so similar.

[flez007]

Excuse my ignorance, but are there Conservative, Socialist, Communist, Liberal Democrats, etc. parties, like in European countries, or is jusy liberal right and extreme right, like in the U.S.?

Yes, we have 6 parties that run all colours, from the right to the left, even some minir communist parties that are in alliance with the socialist one. We are currently governed by a center-right party (PAN) but congressvhas a center-left dominance (PRI).

[flez007]

How's that telenovela looking Governor of Mexico Province doing in the polls?

Flez, the similarities between Mexico's and the Philippines' political histories are so,so similar.

He is leading the polls Jack, but his party (PRI) is not that well seen among liberal people, we will surely have a winner with no more than 10% distance of the runner-up, by the way...the center-right candidate is a woman.

[JackD201]

My party is Center Right the current ruling party is Center Left. Policy wise both are closer to Center than either would care to admit. I like it that way. What scares me is the hardliners at the extremes.

Whatever the outcome today, I hope it bodes well for your nation. I made quite a few Mexican friends when I studied in the US. Very warm and caring people, patient too but like us can go ballistic when pushed too far. 60,000 dead is a tough one for PAN to carry into an election. It was surely what opened the door for the PRI. I just hope the PRI fosters competition in the private sector this time around if they win, or else it will be a short stay.

[flez007]

You are absoloutly right Jack, Calderon started to "clean the house" and collateral damage is huge, at any rate Mexico can't delay their reforms any longer, as the 13th country in the GNP ranking.

[Mike]

Yes, we have 6 parties that run all colours, from the right to the left, even some minir communist parties that are in alliance with the socialist one. We are currently governed by a center-right party (PAN) but congressvhas a center-left dominance (PRI).

Thanks! Are there significant differences in the politics of different ethnic groups? For example, do the indigenous peoples vote for a particular party? I seem to recall that this was the case in Colombia, but that may have been an extreme case and not typical of Latin America.

[flez007]

Thanks! Are there significant differences in the politics of different ethnic groups? For example, do the indigenous peoples vote for a particular party? I seem to recall that this was the case in Colombia, but that may have been an extreme case and not typical of Latin America.

They do, Mexico has around 20 million indigenous individuals with over 35 different languages and lifestyles - we had an over 55% participation (and counting) - it all looks that the Center-Left party (PRI) that ruled fir 75 years regained the Presidential election.

[Mike]

They do, Mexico has around 20 million indigenous individuals with over 35 different languages and lifestyles - we had an over 55% participation (and counting) - it all looks that the Center-Left party (PRI) that ruled fir 75 years regained the Presidential election.

Very interesting, Flez!
Mike