MEXICO+pd.+3+Electoral+Process

__ ELECTORAL PROCESS __  PAN: Which stands for Partido Accion Nacional, Pan is a Christian Democratic party and is one of the three main political parties in Mexico. Pan is led by Manuel Espino Barrientos( 2005). The goal was to peacefully continue to developing the nation. It was founded in 1939 after the loss of the Cristero war. The PAN occupies the right of Mexico’s political spectrum, advocating free enterprise and corporative rule, privatization, reduced taxes, smaller government, and reform and even suppression of the welfare state. The PAN is the most conservative party not unlike the Republican Party of the United States, the Conservatitve Party of Canada or Europe’s Democratic parties. The PAN is strongest in northern states, it has been a primarily an urban party of the middle class.

 PRI: This stands for Institutional Revolutionary Party or Partido Revolucionario Institucional in Spanish. It was originally known as the PNR or the National Revolutionary Party, then the PRM or the Party of Mexican Revolution. The party was the result of Plutarco Elías Calles's efforts to stop the violent struggle for power between the victorious factions of the Mexican Revolution, and guarantee the peaceful if not democratic transmission of power for members of the party. This Party had a reputation for dishonesty, including some of its affiliations. However this party should not be underestimated, many top politicians come from this party like Lopez Obrador. Most of the PRI popular vote comes from the countryside where the ejidatarios and independent small farmers. Also support from rural area or small town, to have less education, and to be older and poorer than other voters.

 PRD: Party of the Democratic Revolution Party or Partido de la Revolucion Democratica, founded in Mexico City on May 5, 1989 by Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Solórzano, Heberto Castillo, Gilberto Rincón Gallardo, Porfirio Muñoz Ledo, other prominent PRI members and left-wing politicians. The party has a strong electoral presence in central and southern Mexico. It has won gubernatorial races in several states including Baja California Sur, Chiapas, Guerrero, Michoacán and Zacatecas. The PRD gets most of its votes from workers and peasants. Also support comes from young, political activists with an elementary or high school education, to live in central states or urban area.

__WHO CAN VOTE __  In 2006 it was said that 58.55 percent of eligible adults participated in the elections. Everyone in Mexico can vote, from poorer farm owners to rich business tycoons. There are no more or less voting rights for religion or social class or gender. Women gained suffrage in Mexico in 1953.

__ELECTIONS __ Mexico elections are free but recent speculation say that the most recent election was not fair. Presidents in Mexico serve a sexenio or a six year term but only one term. The y receives direct votes and the winners are chosen my popular vote. Mexico does have an electoral commission to ensure fairness but are sometimes criticized for not doing their job.

__NOTEWORTHY ELECTIONS __ The most recent election for the Presidency in Mexico was the 2006 elections. This election is noteworthy because there are some accusations that this election was a fraud. It was said that some polling places had more votes than registered voters to Calderon’s campaign exceeding the spending limits. 2000? Overturning of the PRI?