{ "id": "R42548", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "R42548", "active": false, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 412000, "date": "2012-09-12", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T23:56:50.043615", "title": "Mexico\u2019s 2012 Elections", "summary": "U.S. policy makers have closely followed the 2012 elections in Mexico, a key ally with whom the United States shares a nearly 2,000-mile border and some $460 billion in annual bilateral trade. On July 1, 2012, Mexico held federal (presidential and legislative) elections. Turnout reached record levels as 63% of eligible voters cast their ballots. Mexico\u2019s Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) conducted the elections with the oversight of the Federal Electoral Tribunal (TEPFJ). Some election observers asserted that vote-buying and other irregularities marred the electoral process, while observers from the Organization of American States generally praised IFE\u2019s handling of the elections. After considering legal challenges to the results, the TEPFJ found insufficient evidence of vote-buying to warrant an annulment of the vote. The Tribunal declared Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) candidate Enrique Pe\u00f1a Nieto, a former governor of the state of Mexico, president-elect on August 31, 2012. Pe\u00f1a Nieto will take office on December 1, 2012.\nThe centrist PRI that governed Mexico from 1929 to 2000 not only retook the presidency after 12 years of rule by the conservative National Action Party (PAN), but also won a plurality in the Senate and Chamber of Deputies. In the presidential contest, Enrique Pe\u00f1a Nieto captured 38.2% of the vote, followed by Andr\u00e9s Manuel L\u00f3pez Obrador of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) with 31.6%, Josefina V\u00e1zquez Mota of the PAN with 25.4%, and Gabriel Quadri of the National Alliance Party (PANAL) with 2.3%. The narrow margin of Pe\u00f1a Nieto\u2019s victory, coupled with the fact that L\u00f3pez Obrador has refused to recognize the election results, could complicate the transition period. And, while PAN President Felipe Calder\u00f3n has pledged to work with the incoming administration, his party has joined the PRD in calling on authorities to investigate whether the PRI used any illicit finances to fund Pe\u00f1a Nieto\u2019s campaign. \nPolls predicted that the PRI might also capture a simple majority in one or both chambers of the Mexican Congress, a feat not accomplished since 1994. The PRI and the allied Green Ecological Party (PVEM) party failed to capture a majority in either house, but could achieve a simple majority in the Chamber by aligning with the PANAL. For legislation to pass the Senate, and for any measures to amend the constitution (which require a two-thirds majority), the PRI will have to form cross-party coalitions. The PRI will most likely find support from the PAN, which lost seats in the Chamber but retained a powerful bargaining position. The PRD-led coalition, which will now have more seats in the Chamber than the PAN and remains the third-largest force in the Senate, could complicate some reform efforts, including those aimed at increasing private participation in the energy sector, a key priority for Pe\u00f1a Nieto.\nSome Members of Congress may be concerned that the leadership changes resulting from the July 1, 2012, Mexican elections will significantly impact U.S.-Mexican relations, particularly now that the party controlling the presidency has changed. However, few analysts are predicting that the transition from PAN to PRI rule will result in seismic shifts in bilateral relations. Enrique Pe\u00f1a Nieto has sought to reassure U.S. policy makers that his Administration will continue to combat organized crime, while also striving to reduce violence in Mexico. He also aims to increase bilateral and trilateral (with Canada) economic and energy cooperation. \nThis report provides an overview of the parties and candidates who competed in the Mexican federal elections with a focus on the presidential contest, recaps the election results, and discusses some potential implications of the elections for U.S.-Mexican security cooperation, North American economic integration, and U.S. energy security.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/R42548", "sha1": "1378f60d48066f252106e8f27a9aa7c804c596fc", "filename": "files/20120912_R42548_1378f60d48066f252106e8f27a9aa7c804c596fc.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/R42548", "sha1": "bbf1993e508e71b8f7f5dc6bcc3eb52d21fdc163", "filename": "files/20120912_R42548_bbf1993e508e71b8f7f5dc6bcc3eb52d21fdc163.pdf", "images": null } ], 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federal elections with a focus on the presidential contest, recaps the election results, and discusses some potential implications of the elections for U.S.-Mexican security cooperation, North American economic integration, and U.S. energy security.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120719_R42548_3af7283879fd9b77bddce06cb5a261cedc74d944.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120719_R42548_3af7283879fd9b77bddce06cb5a261cedc74d944.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Mexico -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Mexico -- U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Mexico", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Mexico" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Mexico", "name": "Politics and government -- Mexico" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc96724/", "id": "R42548_2012Jun20", "date": "2012-06-20", "retrieved": "2012-08-07T13:52:45", "title": "Mexico's 2012 Elections", "summary": "This report provides an overview of the parties and candidates competing in the Mexican federal elections, with a focus on the presidential contest, followed by a discussion of key issues in the campaign that could have implications for U.S.-Mexican relations.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120620_R42548_64c353a3b12b62e5d9a24ac698d03b0db12fc590.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120620_R42548_64c353a3b12b62e5d9a24ac698d03b0db12fc590.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign policy", "name": "Foreign policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- Mexico -- U.S.", "name": "Foreign relations -- Mexico -- U.S." }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Mexico", "name": "Foreign relations -- U.S. -- Mexico" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Politics and government -- Mexico", "name": "Politics and government -- Mexico" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc87233/", "id": "R42548_2012May23", "date": "2012-05-23", "retrieved": "2012-07-03T07:51:21", "title": "Mexico's 2012 Elections", "summary": "This report provides an overview of the parties and candidates competing in the Mexican federal elections, with a focus on the presidential contest, followed by a discussion of key issues in the \r\ncampaign that could have implications for U.S.-Mexican relations.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120523_R42548_1e1cfef7432bc2ae0c04feb6c70393ff90cb5bbb.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": 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