2010 Mejican general election

The 2010 Mejican general election was conducted on Sunday, July 4, to elect a successor to the incumbent President Diego Fernández de Cevallos, constitutionally limited to two terms in office, as well as the members of both chambers of the VI Imperial Congress. The election was contested between the PPP's Marcelo Ebrard, former Secretary of Social Development and Secretary of Public Security within the Imperial District; the MDP's Miguel McCaul, former attorney general of the province of Béjar and former Senator; the NAP's Josefina Vazquez Mota, businesswoman and former Secretary of Public Education; and the POP's José Antonio Meade, one of Mejico's most prominent economists and former Secretary of Finance and Public Credit.

During his second term, President Fernández de Cevallos navitagd the country through the 2008 global financial crisis, employing measures that managed to mitigate its worst effects on the Mejican economy, and also led the nation during the outbreak of the H1N1 influenza pandemic in 2009, colloquially known as the Mejican flu. Fernández de Cevallos faced significant backlash over his sweeping educational reforms. Despite these challenges, his tenure saw considerable growth in the technology sector and funding for space exploration endavors within the ICN, such as the Elcano Program. However, his legacy was marred by the early 2010 leaks from Grupo Calandria, which exposed secret orders suggesting extrajudicial measures to deal with organized crime, allegations of graft, and a weakening of press freedom.

The election marked a notable liberal shift in the Mejican electorate, with center-left parties witnessing an increase of exactly 100 seats in the Mejican Chamber of Deputies. This can be explained by overall fatigue after ten years of an MDP presidency, and reflected a growing appetite for change. Marcelo Ebrard, a leading trailblazer of the PPP, became the embodiment of this transformation. As a paleoprogressive, he campaigned on a mix of traditional social democratic principles, political reform, anti-corruption, a large social welfare program, and an ambitious urban and environmental agenda.

Miguel McCaul, the candidate for the MDP, ran on a platform that continued to emphasize strong government intervention and Vasconcelism. However, the electorate had grown increasingly critical of the stances taken during the previous administration, particularly in light of revelations of high-handed actions against dissidents and the exposure of corruption scandals. Josefina Vázquez Mota of the NAP touted a platform centered on rebuilding the party's image by focusing on education reform, economic efficiency, and the strengthening of democratic institutions. Despite her efforts to push the party toward a more progressive line, which disillusioned many, especially in the deeply Conservative provinces of Tejas, the NAP continued to grapple with internal divisions and the challenge of distinguishing itself from the MDP, causing it to fail to resonate with the shifting public mood.

José Antonio Meade, representing the POP, offered a platform aimed at moderate voters, focusing on economic stability, prudent fiscal policies, and social programs targeted at poverty reduction. Despite his extensive experience in financial management, Meade struggled to gain galbanize a broader base as his agenda often overlapped with those of his competitors. On the other hand, Jorge Emilio González of the Green Ecologist Party, known for his political opportunism, capitalized on his party's surge in the March 2008 legislative elections, increasing their presence in the Chamber of Deputies. His campaign combined environmental concerns with a broader appeal to centrist policies.

Following the election, the PPP emerged as the largest party but still short of an absolute majority. In seeking to secure the presidency and pass key legislation, Ebrard moved quickly to form a coalition with the POP and GEP, both of whom had compatible interests, particularly in environmental protection and sustainable development. The negotiation was a delicate balancing act, as Ebrard needed to satisfy the POP's economic sensibilities and the GEP's environmental priorities while adhering to his own agenda.

One of Ebrard's primary ambitions was to reform the electoral system to adopt a two-round system, which he argued would lead to clearer mandates and more stable governance. The shift in the electorate and his coalition's substantial representation in both chambers gave him a broad platform to propose such a change. The coalition commanded a solid majority in the Chamber of Deputies and a functional majority in the Senate, providing a robust legislative foundation for pursuing the electoral reform. He would be invested as President of Mejico with consent of Emperor Fernando II on December of the same year.