Jun 5, 2012

Mexico election diary: Friendly fire hits Josefina Vázquez Mota

The Economist: PRESIDENTIAL candidates expect to be the targets of a few poisoned darts from rival parties. But these days Josefina Vázquez Mota of the ruling National Action Party (PAN) seems to be facing nearly as much criticism from within her own party as from outside it. The latest barbed comment came from Vicente Fox, a former president, who on Sunday virtually endorsed Ms Vázquez’s main rival. Why the outbreak of friendly fire?

Mr Fox, who was president between 2000 and 2006, is a sort of Mexican George W. Bush when it comes to incautious comments. (“Mexican migrants do the jobs that even the blacks don’t want to do” gives a flavour of his way with words.) When he said in April that Ms Vázquez could win only with a “miracle”, her supporters groaned. His comment on June 3rd that “A clear winner is emerging…we have to close ranks behind who will win” was even worse, a clear reference to Enrique Peña Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), who is well ahead in nearly all polls. Read more. 

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