[StJacques]

Well everyone; Friday is going to be the big day in the Mexican presidential transition. On that day, as required by the Mexican Constitution, Felipe Calderon is due to present himself before the Mexican Chamber of Deputies (their lower house) as President-Elect to demonstrate when challenged by legislators that he will defend the Mexican Constitution. It is a largely ceremonial event, but one which is spelled out in the Mexican Constitution and upon which Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's PRD has zeroed in as an act which, if prevented, could be viewed as "de-legitimizing" Felipe Calderon as President of Mexico. And it will take place two days before the Toma de Posesión (taking of possession) ceremony in which Calderon officially becomes President of Mexico on December 3rd. So this is not such a small deal after all.

You should all expect to hear more news on the Mexican presidential transition as the week wears on, but keep Friday circled as the big day.

Photos from the El Universal Photo Gallery on today's confrontation in the Mexican Congress:

Thus shines the rostrum of the Chamber of Deputies, days before the Toma de Posesión [i.e. "Taking of Possession" ceremony] of the President-Elect, Felipe Calderon, in an attempt by the legislators of the PRD to take it and to prevent the Toma de Protesta [i.e. "Taking of Protest" ceremony].

The rostrum is taken by the PAN parliamentary group in an attempt to prevent the PRD from making it their own.

An agent of the Presidential State Office confronts a legislator body-to-body to prevent the PRD deputies from taking the rostrum.

A legislator [probably of the PAN Party] throws blows and kicks at his counterparts to prevent them from climbing one of the access stairs to the rostrum.

Deputies of the PAN parliamentary group celebrate with shouts and gestures the preventing of the taking of the rostrum.

[StJacques]

A Mexican Left Watch ping for you all.

Anyone wishing to be added to the ping list may contact me via Freepmail or post within this thread.

[SwinneySwitch]

Ping!

[berdie]

I guess I'm paranoid..but I worry about Mexico and South America more than I do the Middle East. Much closer to home. And with Chavez as a cheerleader against the US...and his love for Iran...

[Ladycalif]

http://videos.eluniversal.com.mx/2911064/videosdet1995.html

[RightWhale]

These are real factions and the situation could evolve to outright civil war. This can be contrasted with Iraq, where the factions aren't, and the civil war isn't.