Old Politics Are New Again In Mexico

In analyzing the forces that drove the PRI back into power after its first-ever defeat in 2000, many are pointing to the widespread corruption and inefficiency that made the ruling PAN party virtually indistinguishable from its rival.

NPR: What happened to Mexico's National Action Party? It was the party that finally broke seven decades of PRI rule in the country and promised to bring long sought-after reforms to the country. Why did voters throw them out of office after two terms? Was the vote a referendum on Felipe Calderon's war on drugs?

ROBERT SIEGEL, HOST: From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Robert Siegel.

MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: And I'm Melissa Block.

In Mexico, last weekend's victory of the P-R-I or PRI was also a stunning defeat for the party that had been in power since 2000. The National Action Party, known as PAN, was thrashed at the polls. Mexican voters were unhappy about the economy and the spreading violence of the drug war. It's a big setback for the party credited with ousting the PRI 12 years ago and ushering in a new era of democracy for Mexico. Read more.

Posted by Ryan Gentzler.