IRI's Preliminary Statement on Mexico's National Elections

July 3, 2000

The results of yesterday's election signify an historic opening of the Mexican political system. The event confirms the electoral freeness and fairness for which many Mexicans have worked over the years. The peaceful transfer of power via the ballot box is a hallmark of democracy. This opening, for which President Zedilla deserves much credit, will prove as important for Mexico as the liberalization of the country's economic system. With its economic freedoms and strengthened democracy, the country is poised to become an even more important player on the world stage.

The International Republican Institute has closely followed Mexico's political situation since 1987, and early this year began formal monitoring of the pre-election period of the July 2nd balloting. IRI was invited to monitor the elections by the IFE and by Mexico's two largest political parties. IRI deployed a 43-member delegation to observe the elections. The mission was led by former U.S. Secretary of State James A. Baker, III with co-leaders U.S. Congressman David Dreier and San Diego Mayor Susan Golding.

The members of IRI's delegation monitored the vote in 12 states, including Campeche, Chiapas, the Federal District, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Mexico, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Puebla, Tabasco, and Zacatecas. IRI witnessed local elections held in four of those states. The delegates visited several hundred polling stations and spoke with hundreds of voters about the election.

Few IRI observers witnessed consequential infractions of the electoral laws during Sunday's vote. Almost all of IRI's teams witnessed late casilla openings, but this was due to unclear instructions and a thorough, complex voting setup well designed to discourage fraud. Special casillas were generally short of ballots for those wishing to vote. One IRI team witnessed voters being transported to the polls by PRI party members, a violation of the law.

IRI delegates were impressed by the often expressed desire of voters for democratic change. Voters also professed a high level of assurance that their candidate would win, a demonstration of confidence in the work of the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE). The consolidation of the IFE's autonomy and its non-partisan efforts to involve citizens were among the most important of the 1996 reforms. Having witnessed its preparations and work on election day, IRI shares the confidence Mexicans have expressed in the IFE. IRI looks forward to the Federal Electoral Tribunal (TRIFE) demonstrating, through its forthcoming work on electoral appeals, that it too merits the confidence of Mexico's voters and political parties.

This is IRI's preliminary statement on Mexico's July 2, 2000 elections. IRI will issue a more formal and detailed report in September.

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