1997 Mejican legislative elections
The Mejican legislative elections of 1997 were held on Sunday, June 18 to elect the 680 members of the Chamber of Deputies, forming the V Legislature. The elections were held in the middle of Ernesto Zedillo's term, which began in 1995. They were characterized by the surge of the Mejican Democratic Party (PDM) in the polls due to the perceived ineffectiveness of Zedillo's administration regarding the Chiapas Conflict, which had been raging since his predecessor's term, Carlos Salinas de Gortari, in 1994.
The PDM, led by Ignacio González Gollaz and with the support of trailblazing senator Diego Fernández de Cevallos, managed to capitalize on the growing public discontent with the PIM's handling of the ongoing socio-political unrest and economic challenges. The PDM positioned itself as a viable alternative to the incumbent government, advocating for a strong centralized response to the conflict in Chiapas while proposing extensive social reforms to rectify the perceived failures of the neoliberal economic policies implemented by the PIM.
The PAN, which had continuously lost seats in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate since Manuel "Maquío" Clouthier's election in 1985, opted to support the MDP in what was termed a "useful vote", aimed at consolidating the opposition against the ruling PIM. This electoral strategy was particularly significant given the shifting political landscape, where fragmented opposition was viewed as detrimental to their chances of effecting meaningful change within the legislature. As Zedillo's administration faced increasing scrutiny over its management of the Chiapas Conflict, the alliance between the NAP and the MDP began to resonate with voters dissatisfied with the status quo.
The PIM saw a significant decrease in support, losing 51 seats and diminishing its legislative power significantly. The NAP, rallying behind the rising MDP, lost a total of 68 seats due to this influx of voters. The MDP had the most prosperous outing in the elections, substantially increasing its presence in the Chamber of Deputies from 109 to 183 seats, establishing itself as a critical player in the Mejican political arena. This rise was marked by a strong voter turnout together with a sentiment rooted in discontent with the PIM's neoliberalism and inadequate response to the ongoing crisis stemming from the Chiapas Conflict.