Opponents Scoff as Fox Renews Promises

This article was brought to my attention by a forum lurker, WM. It's told from a Mexican perspective and gives some instight into President Fox's standing at home.

From KENS 5 and the San Antonio Express-News
Express-News: Mexico/Latin America

MEXICO CITY — In his first State of the Union address — which was interrupted several times by jeers from opposition lawmakers — President Vicente Fox said Saturday he knows his government hasn't lived up to all of its mighty promises.

But in his address in the country's Chamber of Deputies, Mexico's first opposition president in 71 years renewed his campaign pledges to improve economic and social inequalities still besetting a majority of citizens.

"I am conscious that many practices of this government must change, but it's not possible to change the course of a political culture in barely a few months," said
Fox, who took office Dec. 1 following a historic election that defeated the Institutional Revolutionary Party, known as the PRI.

Before his 7:30 p.m. address, legislators from opposition parties had lambasted Fox for not fulfilling most of his promises made throughout his presidential campaign.

"There's an enormous distance between the promises to get votes and the reality of today," PRI congressman Efrén Leyva said.

"The president has to understand that the challenge was not to attain the presidency but to implement his promises," added Leyva, whose party ruled from 1929 until last year. "We are the option. If the president doesn't do it, we will."

The discontent of Leyva's party was registered again with the official rebuttal, given by chamber President and PRI Congresswoman Beatriz Paredes.

While underscoring that Fox's election was proof of Mexicans' desire for change, Paredes also pointed out that no party has an absolute majority in Congress.

"The interest of the country should prevail," she said, emphasizing the need for cooperation rather than presidential dictates.

Wearing his presidential sash under a dark suit, a somber Fox took the podium after listening to nearly two hours' criticism about increased unemployment, neglect in the countryside and failure to bring peace in the southern state of Chiapas.

The Green Party, which formed a political alliance with Fox's conservative National Action Party during the campaign, announced it was breaking ties with his administration.

"The new government provoked many expectations and miles of hopes," Green Party Sen. Jorge Emilio González said. "Mexico is now disillusioned. The promised change of today stayed behind in the yesterday. And that's why we are breaking with the government."

Fox said he listened and took note of the criticisms but reminded the audience that a democracy with full equality and justice for all also is the responsibility of all citizens.

"I am convinced we can consolidate democracy to have understanding between the presidency and the legislature," Fox said.

"On July 2, 2000, Mexico voted for change. From that moment on, I've assumed the responsibility to take Mexico on a new path to combat poverty, corruption, ignorance and impunity and to handle responsibly the economy. All my energy is on this."

Fox said Mexico's lack of economic growth during his nine months in office were due to a worldwide recession. And he reiterated that for the first time Mexico underwent a peaceful transition of power, without violence or economic tremors.

"There is always the risk between change and stability," Fox said. "The alternative did not provoke currency devaluation, a flight of capital. What prevailed was dialogue and the state of law."

The former Coca-Cola executive and former governor of Guanajuato state came to power amid the highest expectations in recent history. He promised to resolve in 15 minutes — if rebels were willing — the simmering conflict with Chiapas' Mayan peasants.

He also promised development, jobs, annual economic growth of 7 percent, the creation of 1 million new jobs in one year and several projects to combat corruption in government institutions and police forces.

He repeated: "Mexico, yes, does have a plan, to improve the capacity of government, to have more freedom, respect for laws and human rights. We seek an increase in markets, economic growth, but these benefits must be distributed with equity."

Fox also insisted that a major fiscal proposal, stalled in Congress, must be implemented.

The package contains several unpopular items, including a 15 percent value-added tax on vital items such as food, medicine, books and rents.

"I am convinced this is necessary for the development of the country, to combat poverty and social disparities," he said. "Let's find a point of convergence for
the good of Mexico."

Fox was firm that Mexico's economy was on the right course and that his administration had taken action in education with thousands of new fellowships for high schools and university students.

He said the federal budget has increased 16.2 percent over the last year explicitly to fight poverty and that minimum wage salaries have been boosted between 6 percent and 10 percent.

His figures were met with jeers from opponents. Chamber President Paredes had to interrupt Fox at least five times to ask for silence from the audience.

"I will resolve the conflict in Chiapas. Blah. Blah. Blah," read one of the several placards hoisted throughout the president's one-hour speech.

Fox's first action as president was to reintroduce to the Senate a dormant Indian rights bill that Zapatistas demanded as a condition for peace.

The bill was passed in Congress in June but clauses on indigenous autonomy and land rights were diluted, causing the Zapatistas to break talks with Fox and renewing the chance for hostilities in the southern state.

Fox said he did all he could, including closing seven military bases in the state and releasing alleged rebel prisoners. The president stressed his goal for peace in the troubled state was not over.

"I've always found democratic solutions. In these nine months I've never been obstinate, authoritarian or overbearing.

"As in no other time, we live in an atmosphere where freedom can be breathed in our streets and our plazas," Fox said.

Fox also touted improved international ties that have brought millions of dollars of new investment into Mexico. And he flaunted a friendlier relationship with the
United States.

Fox's speech came three days before a state visit to Washington, where the president said he hoped to win better conditions for undocumented Mexican immigrants living in the United States. His administration wants Mexicans without legal documents to receive "amnesty" and become legal residents.

But Bush said Wednesday that such amnesty, for 3 million Mexicans, was impossible.

"Start governing, Mr. President. Stop you foreign travels," said leftist congressman Auldarico Hernández Calderón. "We want agreements that benefit our society."

A number of comments quoted in this piece are from members or office holders of the PRI. It's only natural that they would have negative things to say about Fox. He has been in office for about ten months now, since December 1st, 2000. Obviously he wasn't going to correct all of the ills of Mexico in ten months, but I think there are some interesting bits of information in here.

The fact that the Green Party has chosen to withdraw it's support from Fox is of interest. Obviously the two parties don't see eye to eye or they'd be one, but it is interesting that part of the coalition that brought Fox to power is starting to crumble.

Federal spending has gone up 16.2% over the last year. That was done to reduce poverty. And that's something a certain segment of the populace will appreciate. But then there's a new 15% VAT being proposed by Fox on such things as Food, Medicine and Rent. As much as some will appreciate Fox's increased government spending, I'm guessing a whole lot of others are going to be quite upset about the VAT. I would be.

Trips of Fox's to the US may shore up support for him at home. Those trips may also spark ridicule if they are not handled just right. If Fox is seen as having gained nothing from the trips to the US, his image could suffer significantly.

Fox is described by a number of people on this forum as being a breath of fresh air. I'm not sure everyone at home sees things quite that rosey. Fox obviously has the support of his own party, which isn't given fair play in this article, but it appears to me that he has his work cut out for him. To rule in Mexico probably isn't all that easy a task. With it's poverty that hasn't been significantly impacted for decades, it will be interesting to see if Fox can truly show himself to be as great a benefactor of the Mexican people as those on this forum have declared him to be.

to implement his promises," added
Leyva, whose party ruled from 1929 until last year.
"We are the option. If the president doesn't do it, we will."

I love it. Much like Democrats and other Communists, these
bozos had 70 years to bring their country out of
corruption and never did it. Now that they are out
of power, they are only too willing to do what they
say is right, but could never manage while in power.
No sale, Leyva.

It shouldn't be too surprising that Fox is being criticized by the PRI (Mexico's verision of the Democratic-Socialists).President Bush is receving the same kind of treatment from the DSs here. Last night the Liberal Media criticized Bush for saying that Mexico was our most important neighbor. "The Canadians were scandalized," they said. The Canadian government hasn't had anything good to say about the new Administration either.

It just might be that we are all alone in the world. Not because Bush isolated us. The rest of the world has been moving leftward for many years. The EU has been leading the way. Just possibly the U.S., Israel and Mexico have been left out. I believe that it is long overdue to strenthen our own Western Hemisphere. Canada can join with us.

I think that Bush sees an historic opportunity in a Mexico free of the wretched PRI. There have been hundreds of thousands of Mexicans who went to El Norte, made money, and did go back home.
They know that capitalism works, and that Mexico could be primed for a huge leap. There is a window here. A developed, capitalist, pro-business Mexico is the best way to solve immigration issues.
I've worked with a lot of Mexican nationals. Given the choice of getting good wages in Mexico, and good wages in the U.S., most would rather stay home near their families.

The 15% VAT is something I wouldn't support, even though I would probably be rated at the top of the Mexican bashing if a poll were taken.

I don't really want bad things to happen to the Mexican public. I'd like them to improve their nation to a standard of living comparable to ours. It's just that I don't want them to sap our system to attain that.

I'm not sure how the Mexican populace is taxed now. They must have some sort of an income tax, although I'm not sure.

In our nation, I'm not convinced a federal sales tax would be a bad idea, if the income tax was abolished. But if that sales tax was imposed on food, medicine and rent I'd scream bloody murder. Cripe, next they'd be taxing air.

I have always thought of Canada and the US as natural allies. Perhaps I've actually given this too much creedence. To a lesser degree I have also thought of Mexico as an ally.

I think it's a very good thing to let our neighbors know that we respect them and consider their needs and wants as important to discussions between us. Dismissive is not a viable option with either of them. On the other hand we can't act like a homeowner who's neighbor keeps breaking into our garage and "borrowing" equipment they never return. If you let someone walk on you, they simply get more and more bold.

Illegal immigration is one such issue. For whatever reason the US has sent quite a bit of business over to Mexico. I didn't agree with all of it, but the truth is that business helps to increase the standard of living in Mexico. My objection was that it created downward pressure on wages and job availability in the US. Let's not argue that point now. The present reality is that the US has done quite a bit to help the Mexican economy and the standard of living in Mexico. Instead of getting credit for that, Fox demands we make the illegals citizens.

For years we have looked the other way as illegals have poured across our borders. We allowed it to happen. Now, like the neighbor who stolen our tools and become emboldened, Mexico's leadership demands we legalize them. I think this is a problem that has been festering for a long time. It should have been addressed early on. Now it's a monster. Still, it is far better that we address the problem now with realistic goals that are drafted from the US point of view. This is happening to our nation. We have the right to determine how it is remedied.

Mexico should thank it's lucky stars for a neighbor like the US. Other nations would have smaked em hard for what they've been doing.

We need to remind the Mexican President and his fellow citizens that the US has been injecting tremendous vibrance into their economy. We should ask that they respect our nation and it's laws.

I consider Mexico a "potential" ally, but not a current one. They've always given us a hard time, from the nationalization of the then-American owned oil companies in the 20s-30s, to a lot of static they gave us in the 70s vis-a-vis oil, when they could have helped us, to the immigration problems of the last 20-30 years. Of course, Canada has traded with Cuba, etc, so it's not like the Canadians are fast friends either. I like the fact that the PRI has lost the presidency, but the cure may be worse than the disease in this case. Fox coming to the US and demanding, almost dictating, what we are going to do about immigration, and when we shall do it, is preposterous. He and every other Mex ought to be glad they were "let" into this country. We could have sealed the border, or had "shoot to kill" policies to enforce our borders. Instead, as a nation, we maintained a porous border and then the floods came. I have nothing against Mexicans themselves, but the priciple should be "don't illegally come here, then start telling us what we will do about it and when." We should tell Vincente, "sorry, that would not be fair to the rest of us, nor to the legal immigrants who when through a tough process to become citizens". Change is mostly good, but if the PRI had won, would they be up here, telling us how to run our country? Me thinks not......

Right on Doughty!

Fox may be saying all these impertinent things about legalizing his illegal invaders simply for back home consumption. It's not going to happen or we can write off the Southwest of our nation.

I'm convinced that all politicians in Mexico are pawns of the Narcoterrorists that seek to rot America from within.

"We seek an increase in markets, economic growth, but these benefits must be distributed with equity."

It seems the Mexican culture is just steeped with communist notions like this and this is why their nation is a hell hole and we must stop importing impoverished Mexicans. It's time Mr. Fox started to help build his middle class and crack down on the institutionalized corruption that is Old Mexico.

Citizen, Patriot <><

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