It wants to refocus public spending for the poor

Difficult to sit in a Chair when more than a third of the country judge you illegitimate. The winner of the Mexican election of July 2, Felipe Calderon, still succeeded Friday, to take an oath before Congress and received the presidential sash from the hands of the outgoing President, Vicente Fox, in a large mess. The members of the leftist PRD party had vowed to prevent the ceremony. They continued to shout and protest. Few, parliamentarians left and right, who camped in the room for two days, to were beaten with fists, one to block the entries in the parliamentary Chamber, the other to prevent them from doing so.

In Mexico, more than 7,000 police and military had been deployed to try to curb the excesses. The leader of the PRD, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, candidate of the elections in half a percentage point, still refuses to recognize its defeat. It was attended by tens of thousands of demonstrators: "we are here to protest against the electoral fraud of July 2. "They have violated the Constitution, trampled the dignity of Mexicans", was launched. After to be proclaimed "legitimate President", November 20, and appointed a "parallel government", he now harasses the power kicked almost daily acts and threats of street mobilization proposals.

In his speech, Felipe Calderon has called for the "reunification of the Mexico in this period of tension." He added: "I did not 221(1)(f) the reasons of those who voted for me." But if I am ready for dialogue, I will not wait to govern and work. "It has outlined its priorities. The fight against insecurity and organized crime linked to drug trafficking, appears. The Government must submit a safety program within three months. The appointment to the Ministry of the Interior of a "hard", Francisco Ramirez Acuna, is a signal.

Economic orthodoxy

Felipe Calderon, on the other hand, insisted on the fight against poverty which affects half of the approximately 100 million Mexicans. It wants to refocus public spending for the poor. To set an example, he will reduce his salary and that of senior officials. This voluntarism must be accompanied by a policy of creating jobs, supporting SMEs and foreign investment.

This liberal government is part of the continuity of the era Fox, attached to the economic orthodoxy. The appointment of finance Agustin Carstens, former leader of the IMF, confirms this. Calderon is also in favour of maintaining close ties with the United States, even if it calls its greeting an American immigration reform.

Finally, he wished to try to reform the energy sector. His predecessor had failed to do so. The new President would let the national oil company Pemex, which the State would retain control, international alliances with the majors. What is fiercely opposed the opposition. Although the NAP has the majority in Parliament, Calderon will have to deploy treasures of persuasion to join the historical Party PRI in the position of arbitrator to vote its reform projects. Given the climate of tension between the two sides, it is however fear that the mandate of Calderon is, like Fox, marked by institutional paralysis.