Los Sexenios, Clío TV – Miguel de la Madrid, Oportunidades Perdidas

La Renovación Moral de la Sociedad

Contexto Político y Social

• La renovación moral es presentada como una demanda efectiva de la sociedad, donde cada parte debe asumir su responsabilidad en esta tarea nacional.

• En octubre de 1981, Miguel de la Madrid enfrenta problemas económicos graves que amenazan el bienestar social en México.

• La caída de los precios del petróleo desilusionó a muchos mexicanos, afectando especialmente a los desposeídos y marginados.

Crisis Económica y Desempleo

• La inflación llevó a un aumento del subempleo, mientras las ciudades se llenaban de migrantes buscando oportunidades.

• Durante su campaña, De la Madrid prometió no hacer promesas imposibles y enfatizó la importancia de gobernar con el ejemplo.

Resultados Electorales

• Las elecciones del 4 de julio de 1982 mostraron un sorprendente apoyo del 68% hacia De la Madrid, interpretado como un voto por la renovación moral.

• Este voto también representó una revalidación del derecho ciudadano a elegir a sus gobernantes.

Primer Año de Gobierno

• De la Madrid enfrentó una situación crítica y se comprometió a actuar con decisión para evitar que el país se desmoronara.

• En su primer año, mejoró notablemente el desempeño económico interno y trabajó para estabilizar la economía mexicana.

Medidas Económicas

• Se implementaron medidas drásticas contra la inflación mediante aumentos en ingresos públicos y contracción del gasto público.

• A pesar de estas medidas, los salarios sufrieron retrocesos debido al aumento continuo de precios.

Lucha Contra la Corrupción

• De la Madrid inició acciones firmes contra la corrupción creando una nueva Secretaría para regular gastos gubernamentales.

• Se ordenó detener al ex director Arturo Durazo por delitos relacionados con extorsión y acopio ilegal de armas.

Casos Notables de Corrupción

Corruption and Political Dynamics in Mexico

The Role of Corruption in Governance

• A letter was sent to the government denouncing the activities of key figures, highlighting a missed opportunity for legal and political action against corruption.

• Joaquín Hernández Galicia claimed to have influenced four presidents, suggesting a deep-rooted connection between power and corruption in Mexican politics.

• Despite some political stability by 1985, external debt continued to rise, indicating ongoing economic challenges.

Economic Crisis Management

• Miguel de la Madrid's third government report emphasized careful political management during difficult times, maintaining social order and educational continuity.

• On September 19, 1985, a devastating earthquake struck Mexico City, marking a significant turning point in public response and governmental effectiveness.

Public Response to Disaster

• The earthquake registered at 7.8 on the Richter scale, leading to immediate public panic but also an outpouring of solidarity among citizens.

• Spontaneous heroism emerged as thousands risked their lives to rescue victims from the rubble amidst initial disbelief about the disaster's severity.

Governmental Challenges Post-Earthquake

• Efforts were made to locate survivors; however, there was confusion regarding missing persons due to inadequate communication from authorities.

• The government's response was criticized for lacking efficiency; officials downplayed international aid needs while facing mounting casualties.

Societal Solidarity vs. Government Accountability

• International solidarity poured in quickly; however, local complaints arose about delayed assistance reaching those affected by the disaster.

• The state’s reluctance to acknowledge the full extent of tragedy reflected fears of losing control over civil society amid widespread suffering.

Political Implications Following the Earthquake

• The aftermath of the earthquake coincided with elections that revealed cracks within political discipline and governance strategies.

• Blame for budgetary deviations was shifted onto the earthquake itself as a means of justifying financial mismanagement.

Historical Context of Democracy in Mexico

• A historical yearning for democracy has driven Mexicans through battles against imperialism and dictatorship; electoral fraud sparked significant unrest in 1983.

Election Fraud and Political Turmoil in Chihuahua

The Rise of Francisco Barrio and the PAN

• In Ciudad Juárez, there was no possibility of electoral fraud; a young PAN candidate, Francisco Barrio, emerged victorious.

• Fernando Baeza from the PRI ran for governor in Chihuahua, while the leftist PSUM party nominated veteran social activist Antonio Becerra Gaitán.

• A coalition formed among various groups to protest against political injustices, transcending party lines to defend democracy.

Election Day Protests and Allegations of Fraud

• Barrio's charisma resonated with voters; he famously stated that "the PAN loses because it has a losing mindset."

• The PAN reported numerous suspensions of its members from official lists, complicating their ability to monitor election integrity.

• Pre-election distrust led to widespread protests across Chihuahua as citizens anticipated potential fraud based on historical precedents.

Aftermath of the Elections

• Despite public outcry, Fernando Baeza was declared the winner along with PRI candidates in all municipalities previously held by the PAN since 1983.

• Evidence of electoral fraud surfaced through testimonies and documents corroborating initial allegations against the ruling party.

Resistance Movements and Calls for Change

• Luisa Álvarez initiated a hunger strike as part of a broader civil resistance movement led by the PAN against electoral fraud.

• A manifesto signed by 21 intellectuals called for nullification of elections; government officials dismissed these demands citing national security concerns.

Economic Crisis Following Political Events

• On October 18, 1987, Mexico's stock market experienced one of its worst crashes due to global economic factors linked to Wall Street's decline.

• Many individuals invested recklessly in stocks without proper knowledge or financial backing during this speculative frenzy.

Government Response to Economic Challenges

• The Mexican government announced a significant devaluation exceeding 40% following economic turmoil exacerbated by inflationary pressures.

• President De la Madrid sought solutions through an economic solidarity pact aimed at curbing inflation which had reached nearly 200%.

Long-term Implications

Privatization and Social Movements in Mexico

The Context of Privatization and Agrarian Conflict

• During the privatization process under Miguel de la Madrid, significant agrarian conflicts arose, highlighted by two major peasant marches to the capital: one with over 5,000 Chiapaneco indigenous people and another with more than 70,000 farmers from various regions.

• In Juchitán, Oaxaca, a notable confrontation occurred between PRI caciques and members of the Workers' Peasant Student Coalition from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec.

• The federal government intervened following violent clashes, leading to new elections that were conducted cleanly without further violence.

International Context and Migration Concerns

• The international landscape worsened for Miguel de la Madrid with Ronald Reagan's presidency in the U.S., which involved military bases and support for Central American countries against guerrilla movements. This led to an influx of Guatemalan and Salvadoran migrants into Mexico.

• Concerned about potential guerrilla infiltration through undocumented migrants, De la Madrid established an international mediation body in 1983 called "Grupo Contador" to facilitate peace negotiations in Central America.

Internal Violence and Press Freedom Issues

• Despite efforts at mediation, Grupo Contador faced obstacles due to U.S. interests; economic weakness made conflict with the U.S. risky for Mexico.

• A high-profile unresolved case was the assassination of journalist Manuel Buendía during this period. Reports indicated widespread violence against journalists in Mexico.

• By this time, genuine freedom of expression had not yet been achieved within Mexican media.

Political Dynamics: Technocrats vs Traditional Politicians

• A divide emerged between technocrats—educated abroad who sought leadership roles—and traditional politicians who had previously governed but were seen as having failed the system.

• Carlos Salinas de Gortari began consolidating political power within PRI while contrasting visions for national development clashed: modernizing market-oriented policies versus older import substitution models focused on public investment.

Emergence of New Political Movements

• Tensions escalated within PRI as different factions vied for influence; one faction chose a candidate through traditional means while another demanded more democratic processes.

• Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas announced his departure from PRI amid these tensions, signaling a critical shift towards a new political movement known as "Corriente Democrática," advocating for open candidate selection processes.

Cárdenas and the Democratic Movement

The Shift in Political Dynamics

• Cárdenas, alongside prominent PRI figures like Porfirio Muñoz Ledo, took up the democratic banner that the government had neglected, marking a significant departure from traditional party politics.

• Lamadrid noted that actions from the democratic current prompted a reaction from old PRI structures, leading to attempts at creating a seemingly more democratic candidate selection process within the party.

The 1988 Elections and Candidate Selection

• Despite efforts to establish a new candidacy format, it ultimately failed as the successor was already predetermined; Cárdenas and Muñoz Ledo lacked time to form a political party for the 1988 elections.

• Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas accepted nomination by a coalition of various parties after Heberto Castillo of the Mexican Socialist Party withdrew his candidacy in support of him.

Public Sentiment and Campaign Dynamics

• The presidential campaign saw an unprecedented level of public engagement, with citizens rallying against PRI's dominance; this marked a shift towards viewing public servants as representatives rather than exploiters.

• The intensity of Cárdenas' campaign led to widespread demonstrations against PRI, indicating a burgeoning political opposition in Mexico.

Election Integrity Concerns

• There was strong sentiment among voters that they would defend their election rights amidst fears of electoral fraud; this highlighted growing convictions among citizens regarding their political agency.

• On election day, many Mexicans participated actively despite threats of abstention; however, reports emerged suggesting manipulation of results post-election.

Aftermath and Political Consequences

• Carlos Salinas de Gortari was declared president-elect amid allegations of electoral fraud; opposition legislators vocally protested during Miguel de la Madrid's final report on governance.

• De la Madrid’s presidency faced challenges including calls for moral renewal which were unmet due to economic adjustments leading to social deterioration during his term.

Economic Challenges Post-Election