| BARRIOZONA |
Permission to reprint or copy this article or photo, other than personal use, must be obtained from BARRIOZONA,
Call 480-983-1445 or e-mail admin@barriozona.com with your request
Call 480-983-1445 or e-mail admin@barriozona.com with your request
| Grassroots Journalism www.barriozona.com |
Felipe Calderon Outwits Opposition - 2006 Election
Mexico's new president chaotic and tumultuous sworn-in ceremony shows he understands power, and a
determination he will not hesitate to use it.
determination he will not hesitate to use it.
By Eduardo Barraza
BARRIOZONA
December 1, 2006
BARRIOZONA
December 1, 2006
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.
Copyright © 2006 Hispanic Institute of Social Issues
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.
Copyright © 2006 Hispanic Institute of Social Issues