2012 Mejican legislative elections
The 2012 Mejican legislative elections were carried out on Sunday, June 10, to elect the members of the Chamber of Deputies as part of the VI Imperial Congress. The main contestants of the election were the Popular Progressive Party (PPP), led by the incumbent President Marcelo Ebrard, the Mejican Democratic Party (PDM), the Popular Progressive Party (POP), the National Action Party (PAN), the Green Ecologist Party (PVE), and the Unified Socialist Party (PSUM). These elections, together with a few victories in provincial elections gave the coalition of President Ebrard the majorities required to introduce changes to the Constitution to reform electoral law and establish a two-round system of voting.
Ebrard's PPP managed to slightly increase its share of the Chamber of Deputies, gaining an extra 15 seats to increase its majority to 205 seats, two seats above the PDM's 203 seats. In the 2010 general elections, despite the PDM emerging as the largest party with 222 seats, the PPP managed to form a minority government as the Grupo Calandria leaks damaged the reputation of the PDM and impeded coalition-building talks. The POP and the GEP, coalition partners of the PPP, managed to increase their representation, with the POP gaining 2 seats for a total of 112, and the GEP making significant gains of 13 seats, elevating their total to 32.
Conversely, the PAN continued to experience a steady decline, losing 13 seats to fall to 94 in total. The temporary loss of trust between the PAN and the PDM due to the leaks led to the fall of coalition talks between the parties, ultimately resulting in the PAN's inability to effectively mount a challenge against the dominant PPP. The electoral fatigue that had begun to emerge in the previous elections continued to plague the PAN, as its base became increasingly disillusioned with the party's leadership and its failure to address social and economic issues.
The election outcomes were further complicated by a notable voter realignment, particularly among the youth and urban populations, who were increasingly attracted to the platform of the PPP. Many former PAN supporters shifted their loyalty to the PPP, contributing to the PAN's decline and diminishing its presence in several key districts. This voter shift not only undermined the PAN's traditional strongholds but also signaled a transformation in the Mejican political landscape. The PPP’s messaging on social justice, poverty alleviation, and a commitment to addressing the needs of marginalized populations resonated with these demographics, allowing the party to emerge as the preferred choice among younger voters.