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Felipe Calderon Outwits Opposition - 2006 Presidential Election
Phoenix, Arizona. Attempts to prevent new President Felipe Calderon
from fulfilling the constitutional duties to be sworn in as President of
Mexico resulted unsuccessful, when in a tumultuous and a chaotic
ceremony he received the presidential sash from outgoing president
Vicente Fox, and rushed to take oath in an unexpected and quick
action.
Surrounded by a heavy security apparatus, the new and former
Mexican presidents evaded blockades formed by representatives and
senators from the Democratic Revolution Party, who tried to obstruct
Felipe Calderon from entering the building and taking oath. It was
necessary, though, that even with this impressive use of force,
Calderon and Fox would enter the tribune of Congress through a
back door. This strategy averted physical confrontation, and
guaranteed the incoming and outgoing presidents would not be
stopped from accomplishing their purpose.
Calderon’s surprising, well-coordinated and effective tactic was
aimed at satisfying the minimum constitutional necessary duties to
be officially sworn in. Although the new president carried out the
required protocol, the hasty and brief ceremony left the same
impression of untidiness that have characterized Mexico after the
July 2nd, election. Conversely, and unlike Fox’s yielding attitude on
September 1st when he was prevented from delivering his State of
the Union speech, Calderon used his executive power to enforce and
fulfill the written and constitutional mandate.
The modus operandi with which Felipe Calderon begins his
challenging term, hints a different governing tone from Vicente Fox’s,
who many said in his desire to allow a democratic and civil rights and
liberties, he ended up being too permissible, thus creating an
atmosphere of disrespect toward Mexican government institutions.
Calderon’s use of top security entities, and more importantly, the
ability to overcome the fierce opposition and actions to prevent him
from taking the oath of office, implies that he will move decisively,
using the power of the government and its institutions to govern,
and to most likely crush Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s movement
of civil resistance and his so called “parallel government.”
Five months after the disputed presidential election, the polarizing
effect Mexican society experienced has already begun to show signs
of weakness. Despite the actions of President Felipe Calderon’s
opponents, the people of Mexico are at the dawn of a new era in
their country. They now have a new president whose grasp of
politics and power is clear, as is clear his determination to use it to
govern.
from fulfilling the constitutional duties to be sworn in as President of
Mexico resulted unsuccessful, when in a tumultuous and a chaotic
ceremony he received the presidential sash from outgoing president
Vicente Fox, and rushed to take oath in an unexpected and quick
action.
Surrounded by a heavy security apparatus, the new and former
Mexican presidents evaded blockades formed by representatives and
senators from the Democratic Revolution Party, who tried to obstruct
Felipe Calderon from entering the building and taking oath. It was
necessary, though, that even with this impressive use of force,
Calderon and Fox would enter the tribune of Congress through a
back door. This strategy averted physical confrontation, and
guaranteed the incoming and outgoing presidents would not be
stopped from accomplishing their purpose.
Calderon’s surprising, well-coordinated and effective tactic was
aimed at satisfying the minimum constitutional necessary duties to
be officially sworn in. Although the new president carried out the
required protocol, the hasty and brief ceremony left the same
impression of untidiness that have characterized Mexico after the
July 2nd, election. Conversely, and unlike Fox’s yielding attitude on
September 1st when he was prevented from delivering his State of
the Union speech, Calderon used his executive power to enforce and
fulfill the written and constitutional mandate.
The modus operandi with which Felipe Calderon begins his
challenging term, hints a different governing tone from Vicente Fox’s,
who many said in his desire to allow a democratic and civil rights and
liberties, he ended up being too permissible, thus creating an
atmosphere of disrespect toward Mexican government institutions.
Calderon’s use of top security entities, and more importantly, the
ability to overcome the fierce opposition and actions to prevent him
from taking the oath of office, implies that he will move decisively,
using the power of the government and its institutions to govern,
and to most likely crush Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s movement
of civil resistance and his so called “parallel government.”
Five months after the disputed presidential election, the polarizing
effect Mexican society experienced has already begun to show signs
of weakness. Despite the actions of President Felipe Calderon’s
opponents, the people of Mexico are at the dawn of a new era in
their country. They now have a new president whose grasp of
politics and power is clear, as is clear his determination to use it to
govern.
By Eduardo Barraza December 1, 2006
Felipe Calderon takes oath as
Mexico's 56th President. Members of
opposition parties attempted to
prevent him from entering Congress
but he managed to gain access
through the back of the building.
Photo by William Gonzalez | Barriozona
Mexico's 56th President. Members of
opposition parties attempted to
prevent him from entering Congress
but he managed to gain access
through the back of the building.
Photo by William Gonzalez | Barriozona
Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues in Phoenix, Arizona
| HISTORY IS ABOUT TO CHANGE Grassroots Journalism |
Eduardo Barraza is a journalist and writer,
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
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