Political Parties and Voters in Mexico's 2006 Elections (program), February 3, 2006

In July of this year, Mexico will elect a new president in what has been called the first "normal" democratic elections that feature three main candidates on a level playing field. Vicente Fox of the PAN cannot run for reelection, so will his party's Felipe Calderon win, will the PRI stage a dramatic comeback behind Roberto Madrazo, or will Mexico join other Latin American countries that have promoted left-wing leaders and elect the PRD's Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador? At a deeper level, what is the substance of political campaigns in Mexico's now "normal" democracy? Do they represent what the voters want or are candidates leading public opinion? How will the newly enfranchised absentee voters in the United States affect the election? This conference brings together scholars and high-level representatives from the three major parties to address these issues from two perspectives. On the Friday morning panel from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, a bi-national team of researchers will present findings from the first wave of a new panel survey designed to tap voters' opinions, preferences, and views of the political process. This "view from below" will be complemented by a "view from above" by party representatives who will discuss their platforms and campaign strategies in the afternoon panel (2:00-5:00 p.m.). The party representatives are the International Affairs Coordinators of the PRI (Samuel Aguilar), PRD (Saul Escobar), and PAN (Senadora Cecilia Romero). The presentations at the afternoon panel will be in Spanish.