Electoral emergency in Mexico

**~~Han Cholo~~** · 07-08-2012, 01:21 AM

http://www.e-flux.com/announcements/...ncy-in-mexico/

Beginning with early reports by independent media such as the Guardian that unveiled the extended manipulation of the electorate by the Mexican television networks in favor of Enrique Peña Nieto, the Presidential candidate of the PRI (Revolutionary Institutional Party), the entire electoral process and the polls on July 1st were marred by a wide array of fraudulent electoral practices. With money from unknown sources, sums that well beyond exceed all legal spending limits were used by the PRI to purchase votes from some of Mexico’s most vulnerable portion of the electorate—millions of individuals living well beyond the poverty line. Offering packages of food and international calling cards that were promised to become exchange cards for a myriad of public services if the PRI candidate was elected, millions were bought off or coerced by the PRI agents all around the country.

Despite the growing evidence of electoral criminal activity, on the night of July 1st the television networks, most of the media and the Mexican government coalesced in misrepresenting the voting preliminary results and exit polls; staging a public spectacle that granted Peña Nieto a narrow victory of 6% over leftist candidate Andres Manuel López Obrador. Even with less than 10% of the votes counted, this announcement was quickly accepted and dissiminated widely as the months leading up to the election had created conditions for an expected Peña Nieto win as false public polls were published in media outlets that gave Peña Nieto a lead of over 15 points.

**~~Han Cholo~~** · 07-08-2012, 06:04 PM

Picture yesterday, from my city.

**Xenomorph** · 07-10-2012, 02:30 AM

Not surprised. About a decade in the cold isn't enough to force them to purge themselves of their corruption.

**~~Han Cholo~~** · 07-10-2012, 03:05 AM

Originally Posted by Xenomorph

Not surprised. About a decade in the cold isn't enough to force them to purge themselves of their corruption.

It seems to me that the population now is in massive distrust of the government. On social sites people are supporting marches and stuff like that. Many people are now deeply questioning the system and the general perception is bad. I believe this is the first step in giving an end to it. Other countries like Chile, Uruguay have been doing it since a long time ago.