Mexico's elections
Given that immigration has become a huge topic in the U.S., you would expect that it would also be a leading issue in Mexico's presidential election, which will take place in July.
You would be wrong. Just take a look at the candidates' official web sites.
Front-runner Andrés Manuel López Obrador doesn't mention migrants in his "50 pledges". Well, except for his bizarre plan to grow lumber on one million hectares in Mexico's souther states to provide income for that region's rural population, where supposedly emmigration to the U.S. has grown the most (not true, by the way).
As for Roberto Madrazo, of the PRI, you have to burrow deeply to find anything on this topic. Actually, it's only mentioned in a book he "wrote" (look at the "Soberanía" chapter), where he includes meaningless platitudes such as expanding existing programs for agricultural workers (we only have one with Canada) and encouraging greater labor mobility across borders.
Only Felipe Calderón, of the ruling PAN party, actually mentions the possibility of reaching a migratory accord with the U.S., mainly in the context of defending the human rights of immigrants.
This is not really surprising. Vicente Fox staked a lot by promoting a far-reaching migratory accord with the U.S., only to see this initiative fall victim to 9/11 and Mexico's opposition to the Irak war. Although George W. Bush did in the end submit an acceptable proposal (at least by Mexico's standards), Mexico had little voice or input on it or on the current process in Congress. Thus, no candidate will raise his voice on an issue whose outcome is so uncertain and, besides, the political influence of migrants on Mexican elections is limited.
While this silence is understandable, it still is a shame. Mexico needs to insist that it have a voice in this debate. Of course, that involves risks and the need to contemplate difficult and unpopular comitments, starting with a recognition that the U.S. can and must gain control of its borders.
You would be wrong. Just take a look at the candidates' official web sites.
Front-runner Andrés Manuel López Obrador doesn't mention migrants in his "50 pledges". Well, except for his bizarre plan to grow lumber on one million hectares in Mexico's souther states to provide income for that region's rural population, where supposedly emmigration to the U.S. has grown the most (not true, by the way).
As for Roberto Madrazo, of the PRI, you have to burrow deeply to find anything on this topic. Actually, it's only mentioned in a book he "wrote" (look at the "Soberanía" chapter), where he includes meaningless platitudes such as expanding existing programs for agricultural workers (we only have one with Canada) and encouraging greater labor mobility across borders.
Only Felipe Calderón, of the ruling PAN party, actually mentions the possibility of reaching a migratory accord with the U.S., mainly in the context of defending the human rights of immigrants.
This is not really surprising. Vicente Fox staked a lot by promoting a far-reaching migratory accord with the U.S., only to see this initiative fall victim to 9/11 and Mexico's opposition to the Irak war. Although George W. Bush did in the end submit an acceptable proposal (at least by Mexico's standards), Mexico had little voice or input on it or on the current process in Congress. Thus, no candidate will raise his voice on an issue whose outcome is so uncertain and, besides, the political influence of migrants on Mexican elections is limited.
While this silence is understandable, it still is a shame. Mexico needs to insist that it have a voice in this debate. Of course, that involves risks and the need to contemplate difficult and unpopular comitments, starting with a recognition that the U.S. can and must gain control of its borders.
posted by Andrés at 11:41 AM
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