There was no electoral fraud: Mexican Political Analyst Ricardo Alemán (Translation)

eluniversal.com.mx ^ | July 6, 2006 | eluniversal.com.mx (translated by self)

[StJacques]

The political analyst believes that López Obrador has seeded doubt about the election because he is not a democrat and does not know how to lose

The results of the district vote count and the triumph of Felipe Calderón are nothing more than the confirmation of those institutions which are solid, believable, and trustworthy; believes political analyst Ricardo Alemán.

Alemán believes that there was no electoral fraud against López Obrador, and affirms that the candidate of the For the Good of All coalition has seeded doubt about the election for one basic reason: because he is not a democrat and does not know how to lose.

In an interview with EL Universal.com.mx, the columnist for this publishing house said that, despite the fact that the candidate of the For the Good of All coalition, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has the right to challenge the election, he also posseses a great ignorance of electoral law.

"The IFE¹ is not going to declare winners and López Obrador does not know that the results of elections are won at the ballot box, not in the streets."

With respect to the economic scenarios that are outlined for Mexico, the analyst considers that a climate of tension between the financial sector and external investors is being created.

"Tension which gives a very tight result indeed" he says.

A new political configuration is before the country, and this one is virtually divided into three parts (PAN, PRD and PRI). Alemán states that whoever wins will have to take the other parts into account.

"An integrated government is an urgent matter, be it a coalition or an alliance," Alemán affirms.

Nevertheless, pacts or alliances between parties are not always welcomed by their own groups or political actors. In fact, a tendency exists to disqualify these alliances. Is it possible to "De-Satanize" them?

"We ourselves forget that which has already happened in Mexico and which happened recently: after the '88 election PAN established an alliance with the Salinas government², not just to legitimize it, but so that it could govern. That alliance was transferred to the Zedillo government³, not only in the Congress, we remember that it included the office of Procurator General of the Republic being given to PAN (Antonio Lozano Gracia) and other positions as well, in addition to the alliance in Congress."

"This is a practice that is already known in Mexico and which does not have to frighten us" he concludes.

-----------------------------------------

Translator's Notes:

¹The IFE is the acronym for Mexico's Federal Electoral Institute, which certified the presidential vote.

²Carlos Salinas de Gortari of the PRI party, President of Mexico from 1988-1994.

³Ernesto Zedillo of the PRI party, President of Mexico from 1994-2000.

[StJacques]

I've read a number of editorials and comments from Mexican analysts themselves today, but I chose this one because the analyst, Ricardo Alemán, is expressing a viewpoint I am hoping takes hold among the ruling classes in Mexico, which is that the election is over and that dragging out the inevitable result will do no good and much harm.

One of the reasons why many of us, including myself, supported NAFTA was the belief we shared that once Mexico entered the modern world it would have to begin to rethink its immature political past. I think Alemán's views are quite mature. Mexico has a lot to lose if the election controversy drags out -- notice what he said about the tension between the financial sector and external investors -- and this gives us reason to hope that the "forces of order" put a brake on the downward spiral López Obrador threatens to take the country into if he refuses to recognize defeat. I'm hoping that Mexico turns it back on chaos and the best reason for them not to sink into it is that they now have something to lose which they didn't possess twenty years ago -- a role to play in both the economic and political spheres of the region.

[bmwcyle]

The liberal don't win. There has to be problems. /sarcasm

[StJacques]

A Mexican election ping.

I'm hoping to see an online text of Calderon's speech tonight. That is what I'd like to translate next. But I may not be able to get to it until late, which may mean that we'll have to wait until tomorrow. We'll see.

[jocko12]

But lopez will win with 2 more vote counts.Just look at the state of Washington 2 yrs. ago.

[BunnySlippers]

You would like this then:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2711562

You did such great work last night .. and today. Thanks.

[StJacques]

BunnySlippers;

I can't believe it. There was almost a recognition on that thread that Calderon really did win.

"AMLO's support came in early and largely from the south, where it is based. Meanwhile, Calderon's support came in late and largely from the north, where it is based. Lopez Obrador's party tied up many northern districts with challenges, which gradually gave way and one by one Calderon districts could release their numbers, changing the outcome late in the night."

underline emphasis mine

And there was more. I guess after last night the psychotics all ran to their psychologists today. The guys who are hanging around there today are the ones who are just deluded.

[BunnySlippers]

Lightweights ... compared to our Freeper Mexican analysts. Woof! :)

[Pikachu_Dad]

Three 'meows' back at ya... (Well, that is if the three chow cats didn't have their snouts in a trough.)

[RightWingNilla]

You would like this then: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2711562

Are those asshats actually hoping for a Marxist Mexico?

I know all one has to do is hate Bush to become a hero in the DUmmie mind, but cmon now!

[gaspar]

Lopez Obrador may not be a "democrat", but he sure acts like one of our Democrats.

[StJacques]

"Lightweights ... compared to our Freeper Mexican analysts. Woof!" :)

[Lancey Howard]

bttt

[CedarDave]

BunnySlipper's D/U link is actually a halfway decent analysis of what likely happened... Obrador's recount votes came in early and largely from the south where the PRD is strong. It appears that PRD challenges to PAN votes in the north delayed posting those totals but were gradually overcome. So Calderon's vote total gained and eventually overtook Obrador's.

It appears the Mexican populace is not in the mood for Obrador's troublemaking and want to move on. But just like the Rats in this country, to them winning is everything and anyway to get there is o.k. by them.

[CedarDave]

Yes, bump me to any and all of your translations.

Thanks

[CedarDave]

For anyone that didn't see it, this is the type of work that went on in last night's counting thread. An amazing evening and so many people to thank. I had to stay up to the crossover point plus a bit longer to make sure it was real. Here is the final graphic thanks to Pikachu_Dad:

[freedumb2003]

Well, as opposed to people sitting in their Mommy's beasement, many of us Freepers are either in or are married to Mexican nationals.

I am completely on top of what is happening in Mexico.

For example, almost everyone has overlooked the fact that the Congress is now almost all PAN. That is much more significant than the President's orientation.

We analyze over here with a clear eye.

[freedumb2003]

That looks like an F-22 HUD display! ;)

[CedarDave]

Had to Google that term to see what you were referring to. This graphic is informative and certainly eyecatching.

[Ciexyz]

The losing candidate's name was Juan "Alberto Goro" Kerry.

[Pikachu_Dad]

So what does Mexico have to do to win their south over?