2000 Mejican general election
The 2000 Mejican general election was held on Sunday, October 22, to elect the President of the Government of Mejico and the members of the IV Imperial Congress, in both chambers. This was the first election contested by both the Popular Organization Party (POP) and the Popular Progressive Party (PPP), both offshoots of the neoliberal Mejican Institutional Party. It was disputed between the MDP's Diego Fernández de Cevallos, the NAP's Vicente Fuchs, the POP's Francisco Labastica, the FND's Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, the PPP's Roberto Madrazo, and other minor candidates.
The presidency of Ernesto Zedillo, defined by its neoliberal and technocratic policies, saw substantial progress in the economy, education, housing, and health care, reducing poverty and improving the overall standard of living. Together with this, the tripartite alliance of state, business and labor was strengthened. Mejico embarked on an ambitious nuclear project, which saw the construction of over a dozen nuclear plants, and the signing of the 1997 Kyoto Protocols. However, the Chiapas Conflict overshadowed his administration's successes, with all peace negotiations crumbling and violence persisting.
Diego Fernández de Cevallos and the MDP captivated the Mejican populace with a campaign that hearkened back to the heyday of Vasconcelist rule. In an atmosphere where the electorate had grown weary of neoliberal policies and ongoing instability from the Chiapas Conflict, the MDP's message of strong leadership and a return to order resonated deeply. The resurgence of Vasconcelism, with its appeal to Mejican nationalism, provided a nostalgic contrast to the governance of Zedillo's MIP, which had fallen into disrepute due to lingering corruption scandals. Fernández de Cevallos ran on a platform that vowed to restore the might of the Mejican state and to quell the Nuevo Ejército Libertador del Sur through a decisive show of strength. In his fiery rhetoric, he pledged to employ a powerful mix of military might and political maneuvering to bring the NELS to surrender and assure their submission to Mejican sovereignty.
Vicente Fuchs Quesada of the National Action Party (NAP) campaigned on a platform that sought a middle ground between the status quo and the radical changes proposed by the MDP. His agenda focused on enhancing the rule of law, corruption eradication, and striking a balance between market freedoms and social welfare. Labastida, representing the newly formed POP, positioned himself as a champion of conservative liberalism, centering his platform on promoting small government, fiscal responsibility, and individual liberties. Cárdenas, a familiar face in Mejican politics, continued to advocate for a platform rooted in social democracy and an emphasis on social justice. Cárdenas was vocally critical of the ongoing conflict in Chiapas, advocating for a peaceful resolution that respected the rights and autonomy of indigenous communities. Meanwhile, Madrazo offered a more eclectic approach, blending social democratic ideas with a progressive stance.
Following the elections, the MDP and NAP found themselves in a strategic position to form a governing coalition. The MDP, having capitalized on the resurgent Vasconcelist fervor, and the NAP, representing traditional center-right values, managed to collectively harness a large segment of Mejican society's desire for strong governance and a departure from the corruption-laden image of the previous MIP leadership. The coalition-building process was a calculated maneuver that aligned the MDP's assertive law-and-order platform with the NAP's advocacy for rule of law. The MDP's promise to firmly address the Chiapas Conflict with an iron fist complemented the NAP's push for a framework of stability. In negotiating the terms of their coalition, the two parties united under an agreement that allowed them to combine their legislative strength and form a durable majority in the Imperial Congress.
Emperor Fernando II, who had once wielded absolute authority, openly expressed his favor toward the newly formed coalition between the MDP and NAP. The Emperor recognized in this alliance the potential for a return to the more stable governance reminiscent of the Vasconcelist era, with its emphasis on strong executive power and national unity, elements that were more aligned with his own vision of monarchical rule. With the Emperor's endorsement effectively fortifying their position, the coalition experienced a relatively smooth phase of legislative confirmation. Diego Fernández de Cevallos, with his robust leadership style and pledge to tackle the issues that most resonated with the Mejican people – notably the authoritarian handling of internal conflicts – was easily made president.