(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The vast majority of people in Mexico endorse a series of measures that would alter the way political campaigns are handled, according to a poll by IMO. 87.2 per cent of respondents would support reducing the number of days for campaigns and pre-campaigns.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) – The vast majority of people in Mexico endorse a series of measures that would alter the way political campaigns are handled, according to a poll by IMO. 87.2 per cent of respondents would support reducing the number of days for campaigns and pre-campaigns.
In addition, more than 80 per cent of respondents would agree with prohibiting "dirty-war" negative campaigning, forbidding any government propaganda that implies the personal promotion of a public servant, and banning political parties from buying television and radio promotional spots.
Mexican voters chose their new president in July 2006. Official results placed Felipe Calderón of the National Action Party (PAN) as the winner with 36.68 per cent of all cast ballots, followed by Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) with 36.11 per cent, and Roberto Madrazo of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) with 22.71 per cent. Calderón—a former energy secretary—took over as Mexico’s head of state in December.
On Sept. 14, the lower house of the Mexican Congress—the Chamber of Deputies—approved a series of electoral reforms in a 361-30 vote. The measures, which were later passed by the Senate, include all of the proposals included in this survey, as well as a plan to restructure the autonomous Federal Electoral Institute (IFE). The reforms must be ratified by at least 17 of Mexico’s 32 states, and are expected to become law.
Lawmakers from all political parties lauded the decision. PRD congressional leader Javier González referred to the bill as "historic", adding, "This is a day for celebration. With this reform, Mexican democracy will overcome flaws that put its viability at risk."
Allegations of fraud surfaced during and after the 1988 Mexican presidential election, when the government blamed the breakdown of a computer system for unexpected delays in the distribution of results. In the end, Carlos Salinas de Gortari—the nominee for the ruling PRI—was declared the winner with 50.7 per cent of the vote, defeating Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas of the National Democratic Front (FDN).
The IFE was established in 1990 as an autonomous entity responsible for organizing federal elections in Mexico. Previously, the interior secretariat had been in charge of all election-related activities.
Polling Data
I am going to mention specific aspects included in the electoral reform. Tell me if you support or oppose each one of them.
|
Support |
Oppose |
|
|
Reducing the number of days for campaigns and pre-campaigns |
87.2% |
11.7% |
|
Not allowing a "dirty war" (negative campaigning) against a particular party or candidate |
85.0% |
13.9% |
|
Forbidding any government propaganda that implies the personal promotion of a public servant |
80.7% |
18.3% |
|
Banning political parties from buying television and radio promotional spots, but allow them to use time allotted to the state |
80.7% |
18.4% |
Source: IMO (Instituto de Mercadotecnia y Opinión)
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 1,000 Mexican adults, conducted from Sept. 19 to Sept. 22, 2007. Margin of error is 3 per cent.
