(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in Mexico think the government is not winning its battle against organized crime, according to a poll by Milenio. 51 per cent of respondents believe organized crime is winning this war, while 24 per cent claim the federal administration is ahead.

Mexican voters chose their new president in July 2006. Official results placed Felipe Calderón of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) as the winner with 36.68 per cent of all cast ballots. Calderón—a former energy secretary—took over as Mexico’s head of state in December. During his campaign, he vowed to combat illicit drug trafficking and drug-related crime, as well as to boost Mexico’s economy.

Since taking office, Calderón has waged a frontal war on drug trafficking, involving the army in raid and security operations in the northern areas of the country. The United States is supporting Mexico’s war on drugs with monetary aid.

This year, four high-ranking police officers—including national police chief Edgar Eusebio Millán Gómez and head of the organized crime tactical analysis office Roberto Velasco Bravo—have been assassinated by gunmen in Mexico. Several government officials from various states, such as Marcelo Ibarra, mayor of Villa Madero, Michoacán, have been killed this year as well.

On Jul. 22, during a visit to Ciudad Juárez—one of the epicentres of the war against organized crime—Calderón acknowledged that Mexico is undergoing a "profound and difficult" process of transformation, adding, "I want to tell you that you are not alone in this battle for Ciudad Juárez. The federal government will continue to offer you full support. (...) We are putting the house in order—no matter how many decades it takes."

Polling Data

In your view, who is winning the war against organized crime?

Source: Milenio
Methodology: Telephone interviews with 500 Mexican adults, conducted on Jul. 19, 2008. Margin of error is 4.5 per cent.

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