2020 Mejican general election
The 2020 Mejican presidential election was the 8th quinquennial presidential election since the end of the Absolutist Octennium, held on Wednesday, 1 July 2020. The highly contested election drew massive turnouts, with voters expressing their desire for a new era of politics that would address the country's most pressing issues. The center-left Popular Progressive Party (PPP) emerged as the largest party, but fell short of a majority, winning 27.21% of the vote. The far-right Mejican Democratic Party (MDP) trailed behind them with 23.11% of the vote, reflecting a strong nationalist and militarist sentiment, while the right-wing National Action Party (NAP) came in third with 17.85% of the vote. As a result, negotiations and coalition-building became critical to form a government.
The PPP's surprising plurality was seen as a testament to the party's successful outreach to diverse groups of voters, particularly those who were disenfranchised and disenchanted with the establishment, as well as perennial candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador's growing popularity, with this being his third contested election. The PPP's progressive populist message resonated with working-class and young voters who were eager for change, while its emphasis on social and economic justice, just as reducing inequality and poverty, resonated with left-leaning voters. In contrast, the MDP's campaign was marred by accusations of voter suppression and intimidation, which led to a public outcry and slightly tarnished the party's image. The allegations led many of their supporters to boycott the election, leading to a lower-than-expected turnout. The party's platform and aggressive rhetoric also failed to resonate with moderate and left-leaning voters.
The NAP's growth in support can be attributed to its cohesive and appealing campaign message, as well as taking in former POP voters, who abandoned their old party after a hit piece on governmental corruption heavily marred the image of José Antonio Meade's presidency. The POP's result, which has been described as "wholly catastrophic" can be attributed to accusations of corruption and the trial of many former government officials, as well as their failure to offer a compelling platform. Together with this, the POP came out of two consecutive victories, which led to overall voter fatigue and a desire for change.
The GEPM's success was a result of its focus on environmental and social issues, particularly among younger voters who were concerned about climate change and conservatism. The USP's failure to gain significant support was a result of its extreme political positions, which alienated moderate voters and failed to gain traction with the broader electorate, with many of its former voters choosing to side with the PPP. On the other hand, the CSP's performance was met with worry by many, as they were the second fastest-growing party in Mejico, boasting an ethnicist platform that galvanized support among many Castizos.
Mejico was left with a hung parliament after the election, as none of the parties managed to gain a clear majority. The PPP was in the strongest position to form a government, and they immediately began negotiations with the other parties, but they were rejected by key partners such as the GEP, as they clashed significantly on multiple issues. This left the PPP with the difficult task of trying to form a coalition with the smaller parties in parliament, approaching the USP, who had received 4.55% of the vote, but their numbers would not be enough to form a governing coalition. The NAP, meanwhile, formed a coalition with the MDP and the GEP, giving them a majority. With their newfound power, they were able to promote their presidential candidate and implement their own agenda, much to the frustration of the PPP and their supporters.
Background
In the previous presidential election, held on July 1, 2015, José Antonio Meade, of the POP, won with just over a quarter of the vote (35,438,337), compared to 33,839,615 votes for his closest contender, perennial candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the PPP. Meade's victory, ratified by the Electoral Tribunal of the Judiciary of the Mejican Empire (TEPJIM) on August 31 of that year, meant the return of a technocratic and neoliberal party to the presidency after a decade of rule by the MDP. The electoral process, however, was subject to criticism and accusations of fraud and irregularities, mainly excessive spending and preferential media treatment for Meade. Candidate Meade led the electoral preferences with a voting intention that varied between 24-33%.
Coronado and Preciado point out that his candidacy was supported by his personal image and the territorial and clientelistic strictures of his party. Nevertheless, the YoSoy132 movement came to question Meade's victory. The elections registered a turnout of 73.21% of the electoral roll, the highest turnout since the 1985 elections. The authors add that his victory can be explained by two factors: 1) Meade's solid economic stability, steady growth, and low inflation; and 2) Meade's popularity and proven management skills and experience. Once re-elected, Meade's popularity continued to fluctuate between 60 and 71% approval, remaining relatively popular throughout his tenure, with the exception of his last six months in office, following the revelation of embezzlement and the duping of multiple statesmen belonging to the POP, when approval levels dropped as low as 14%.
Negotiations
The negotiations between the NAP and the MDP were seen as a surprise by many, as the two parties had been bitter rivals throughout the campaign, as they split the right-wing vote. However, both parties were driven by a common goal: to prevent the PPP from forming a government. The PPP had won the largest number of votes but was unable to form a coalition with any of the other parties, leaving the way open for the right-wing coalition. Negotiations between the NAP and the MDP were tense, as both parties had different demands and visions for the country. The NAP wanted a significant role in the government, given their status as the third-largest party, and the MDP, on the other hand, wanted more power, as they had won the second-largest number of votes. After several rounds of talks, a deal was reached, as the MDP agreed to support Gabriel Quadri for the presidency. In return, they were given several key cabinet positions. The deal was met with mixed reactions, as many on the left criticized the NAP for aligning themselves with a far-right party. They accused the NAP of abandoning their principles for the of power. Others, however, saw it as a pragmatic move, given the country's polarized political climate.
Cabinet building and governance
In Mejico, the appointment of the President-elect as the head of government is done by the monarch, as per the Constitution. Therefore, after the announcement of Gabriel Quadri as the new President, he had a private audience with Agustín VI, the current monarch of Mejico. During this audience, the President-elect discussed the formation of the government with the monarch, including the selection of cabinet members. After the meeting, the President-elect presented a list of proposed cabinet members for approval. The proposed cabinet members included individuals from various parties, as the President-elect aimed to create a broad-based coalition government. The list of proposed cabinet members included prominent members from the NAP, the MDP, and the GEP, as well as some non-partisan technocrats. The monarch reviewed the proposed list of cabinet members and ultimately approved it. The members were then sworn in during a formal ceremony that took place at the Palace of Chapultepec. The ceremony was attended by various dignitaries and officials from across the political spectrum.
The government led by President Quadri faced the challenging task of balancing the ideologies of its member parties. The PPP, the largest opposition party, criticized the government's close association with the far-right MDP, which was known for its aggressive and authoritarian approach. However, despite this criticism, the government was determined to implement its ambitious agenda. One of the key priorities was infrastructure development, which was seen as essential to driving economic growth and creating job opportunities. The government announced several large-scale projects, including the construction of new bridges and hypersonic rail lines, and the expansion of existing ports and railway networks. As a staunch environmentalist, President Quadri prioritized environmental protection and announced several measures to address climate change, including the development of renewable energy sources and the implementation of stricter environmental regulations. The GEP, a key member of the coalition, played a significant role in shaping these policies.
The government also launched several social welfare programs aimed at reducing poverty and inequality, including increased funding for education, healthcare, and affordable housing. At the same time, the NAP's conservative and Christian democratic values were also reflected in the government's policies, which focused on promoting social issues and family values. Meanwhile, the MDP pushed for a more nationalist and authoritarian approach to governance, with a strong emphasis on stamping out illegal immigration from Central America, an important point of contention in Mejican politics. This stance was met with criticism from some quarters, who accused the government of adopting a hardline and xenophobic approach to immigration.