Minibiografía: Carlos Salinas de Gortari
Carlos Salinas de Gortari's Background
This section provides information about Carlos Salinas de Gortari's early life and his family background.
Early Life and Family
- Carlos Salinas de Gortari was born in 1948 as the second son of Raúl Salinas Lozano and Margarita de Gortari.
- He grew up in a family environment that was close to culture and public service, which seemed to destined him for a career in politics.
- A tragic incident occurred when Carlos and his younger brother were involved in the accidental death of a domestic worker at the age of 5 and 3 respectively.
- His father, Raúl Salinas, served as Secretary of Industry and Commerce during Adolfo López Mateos' presidency but lost his ambition to become president when Díaz Ordaz was chosen as the successor.
Education and Early Career
This section focuses on Carlos Salinas de Gortari's education and early career.
Education
- After studying at the National Preparatory School, Carlos Salinas entered the Faculty of Economics at UNAM in 1966.
- He pursued further studies at Harvard University between 1972 and 1974, obtaining master's degrees in Public Administration and Political Economy. In 1978, he completed his Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University.
Early Career
- In 1971, Carlos started working at the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit, where he continued until 1981.
- Meanwhile, his older brother Raúl also worked in the government but had ideological differences with Carlos.
- The proximity between Carlos Salinas and his former university professor Miguel de la Madrid played a crucial role in advancing his political career.
- In 1982, Miguel de la Madrid appointed Carlos Salinas as the head of the Ministry of Programming and Budget, which marked the formation of a group of young technocrats in the government.
Rise to Power
This section discusses Carlos Salinas de Gortari's rise to power and his role in the government.
Advancement in Government
- Miguel de la Madrid, once president, appointed Carlos Salinas as the head of the Ministry of Programming and Budget.
- This appointment led to the formation of a group known as "technocrats," who were young economists educated mainly in the United States and advocated for reducing the state's role in the economy.
- Carlos Salinas was considered one of the most prominent technocrats.
Presidential Candidacy
- In 1987, Carlos Salinas was chosen as a candidate to succeed Miguel de la Madrid.
- His father, Raúl Salinas Lozano, expressed his emotions by crying and embracing him when he learned about his son's candidacy.
- The presidential elections in July 1988 marked a significant moment as it was the first time that PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) faced strong opposition candidates from left-wing parties (Cuahtémoc Cárdenas) and PAN (National Action Party) (Manuel Gutiérrez).
- Initially, preliminary results favored Cuahtémoc Cárdenas, but after a mysterious system failure, Carlos Salinas emerged as the winner.
Economic Achievements
This section highlights Carlos Salinas de Gortari's economic achievements during his presidency.
Debt Reduction and Privatization
- One of Carlos Salinas' major accomplishments was significantly reducing Mexico's external debt. It decreased from 63% of GDP in 1982 to only 22% in 1994.
- He also initiated the privatization of more than a thousand government-owned companies, most of which were unproductive and burdened the economy. This freed up resources for social programs and debt repayment.
Constitutional Reforms and Free Trade Agreement
- Carlos Salinas reformed the constitution to allow ejidos (communal land) to be converted into private property, reducing the state's control over farmers since the 1930s.
- His greatest triumph was signing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1992, opening Mexico's economy to one of the world's largest markets.
Social Programs and Solidarity
This section focuses on Carlos Salinas de Gortari's social programs and his "Solidarity" initiative.
Solidarity Program
- The "Solidarity" program became a central aspect of Carlos Salinas' social policy.
- It involved investing billions of dollars in infrastructure, providing credits, and delivering services to rural and marginalized communities.
Political Challenges
This section discusses political challenges faced by Carlos Salinas de Gortari during his presidency.
Opposition Candidates and Electoral Manipulation
- For the first time in Baja California, an opposition candidate won the position of governor during Carlos Salinas' presidency.
- However, in Guanajuato and Michoacán, PRI manipulated elections and committed fraud.
- A new left-wing party called PRD suffered politically motivated assassinations of over 600 members throughout Carlos Salinas' term.
Turmoil and Controversies
This section highlights controversies that occurred during Carlos Salinas de Gortari's presidency.
Controversial Events
- In 1993, Cardinal Jesús Posadas Ocampo was assassinated by a drug trafficker at the Guadalajara airport, allegedly mistaken for a cartel leader.
- Investigative journalism warned of the presence of guerrillas in Chiapas, revealing hidden aspects of the country.
- Amid rumors of an attempted re-election, Carlos Salinas unveiled Luis Donaldo Colosio as the presidential candidate on January 1, 1994.
- The appearance of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) on the same day that NAFTA came into effect caused turmoil both domestically and internationally.
Assassinations and Political Instability
This section discusses assassinations and political instability during Carlos Salinas de Gortari's presidency.
Assassinations
- Luis Donaldo Colosio's campaign faced difficulties, with speculation about his replacement. The true intentions behind his proposed political reforms remain unknown.
- Colosio was assassinated on March 24 in Lomas Taurinas, Tijuana.
- Shortly after, José Francisco Ruiz Massieu, former brother-in-law of President Salinas, was also murdered near the Monument to the Revolution.
- Raúl Salinas' involvement in this crime would