Mexico gives Americans a lesson in democracy

Voting irregularities, voting fraud, and voter intimidation—all are terms Americans used to associate with "struggling" democracies of the second and third world. This election has changed that. The events surrounding the Florida recount have called our attention to what was previously believed to be an immaculate system of democracy. While this introspection is necessary and good, America—and her politicians—could learn quite a lot by examining democracy elsewhere. Particularly relevant is the situation in Mexico, where citizens are savoring the sweet taste of the nation's first truly free election.

SUSANA GONZALEZ/NEWSMAKERS Mexican President-elect Vicente Fox, left, greets current Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo on Mon., July 3 at Zedillo's residence in Mexico City.

Mexico is currently enjoying a stable and auspicious economy after July's election. Considering Mexico's history, this is a marvel. For the last 20 years, every presidential transition has been marred by an economic crisis. To put icing on the cake, this past election ended the 71-year single-party rule of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), thereby sowing the first seeds of political pluralism in Mexico. For more than half a century, Mexican elections have been subject to notorious manipulation by the ruling party. Just before each election the incumbent president ensured the victory of his successor by artificially strengthening the economy and handing out a nationwide bonus shortly before election day. While this manipulation allowed the PRI to stay in power, it caused the Mexican economy to suffer a crisis after each election. Enter current president Ernesto Zedillo, who earned a docorate in economics from Yale in 1981.

Zedillo deliberately reduced the power of the presidency by granting independence to the central bank and relinquishing his constitutional right to appoint the mayor of Mexico City for public elections. Additionally, Zedillo refused to hand out the traditional nationwide "farewell bonus" before the election, despite vigorous protests—admirable actions all. For his pains not only did Zedillo have to witness the defeat of his party in last July's election, but he also made many powerful enemies: several rebellious members of the PRI formally petitioned to have Zedillo expelled. Yet Zedillo's actions have made him something of a martyr for democracy that history will surely note. As Mexican citizen Jorge Tenreiro, ES '03, put it: "I believe and hope that history will regard Zedillo as one of the first in Mexico's recent history who has made a clear and determining stride towards democracy." Zedillo had that most admirable of qualities in a leader: the ability to put concern for the people ahead of his and his party's greed for power. Would that one of our own potential presidents demonstrated that quality!

One can hardly doubt that the current election impasse is detrimental to America. Never mind that economics and foreign relations are suffering; the worst thing about this muddled affair is that it sorely tests the American people's faith in democracy. On an almost daily basis the American people are being shown another reason to doubt the fairness of their elections. Yet, neither Al Gore nor George W. Bush, DC '68, has expressed any concern about what the current situation means to the American people. They are entirely wrapped up in a battle over butterfly ballots, manual recounts, or whatever the legal issue of the hour is, each fighting for what would be the most advantageous to their side. Both men could learn a valuable lesson from Zedillo. They too should be putting the interests of America ahead of their own interests. That does not mean that one of them should concede immediately. It means that rather than exerting all their energy trying to shape the system to their advantage, they should be trying to protect and restore the people's faith in democracy.

The American people have broken themselves up into Democrats and Republicans without realizing that the integrity of this election is an issue that goes beyond party politics. We must unite to demand that our future leaders show the same respect for the people's voice that Zedillo did. Gore and Bush must attempt to resolve the mess in Florida without turning this election into a legal battle. That is not to say that courts should not be involved; rather, the courts should be used as way of gleaning the truth, not officiating a political brawl for the presidency.

Blake Charlton is a junior in Trumbull.

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