Was the Mexican election rigged?

Question

Obrador or Calderon—who do you think really won?

Answer 1

It was the most disputed election in the history of Mexico. Calderon and Obrador both got 35 percent, but I don't remember the difference in decimals in which Calderon won. Each party is supposed to have one of its man in each place where a voting is taking place to represent them. So according to Obrador, his party -- PRD-- counted more votes for him than the ones the IFE (which is an independent institution from the federal state) gave. He assures he would have won because he got many more votes than the IFE counted. The News have already aired on tv some videos that, according to Obrador, prove that the election was not legal. However, IFE and Calderon's party don't accept these videos as a prove. Also, Obrador says Calderon spent more money for his campaign than what is allowed, and accused Calderon of cheating because he said that Obrador was a danger for Mexico and launched him a lot more critics.

It is said that PAN (Calderon's party) is supposedly a party which favores more the rich people. Obrador was supposed to help the poor people more than anyone else. There was an economic fraud back in the 90's, made by the banks of Mexico in which the rich people came out to be the most favored. The names of the people who participated in this fraud are unknown yet, and Obrador promised to show off the names and make justice once he becomes president. According to Obrador, Calderon is one of the people who participated on that fraud called "El Fobaproa". That's another reason why supposedly Calderon would do anything to not let Obrador get to the presidency. So there were many controversial points beyond the election campaigns.

Obrador said the election was rigged because he's facing elite people who has influence to sabotage the election. Besides, the President Vicente Fox is from the same party of Calderon, and --according to Obrador-- Fox said before some people that he would not let Obrador win. Later, Fox said this was not true.

These are the main things, I think, Obrador thinks that the IFE is against him. Many people supported him during his election campaigns, and I don't know how many people is supporting him now to invalidate the election. Throughout Mexican history you see some elections in which the people were cheated (1910, in which the Mexican Revolution started to remove Porfirio Diaz, and I don't remember the years of the other ones).

I read in the news that the way Mexico makes its election is one of the best ones in the world, because it is clear, and well orginized. I think, that if the sabotage on the election is true, and it is learned that there was somebody cheating, IFE and democracy in Mexico would lose credibility. IFE would rather make justice and lose confidence or lie. Actually, to save the good reputation Mexican democracy got in the election, in which the average of people voting even increased, the State, IFE, and the people are calling up to respect the results.

Honestly, I don't know what to think until there's something that really proves either side. Some people think that Lopez Obrador is just not accepting he lost. However, he says he's going to keep showing proves, and the IFE needs to declare officially the next president on September 6, so there's still some time left to decide the case.

(See http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13716709/ for information, it is the one-week-ago- news of the results of the election).

Hope I helped.

Answer 2

Calderon won by far. The overwhelming majority of mexian citizens in the US supported him, but they were restricted from crossing back over to vote & when they did there was only 750 ballots at polling stations in towns that had tens of thousands of voters not counting anyone coming in from the US. They need to fix thier system bad, and I'm very disappointed to see this election disputed as they head down the road to establishing a two party system. I'm glad Calderon won, but I would have taken a decisive honest victory from either oneto move the country forward. The US needs to spend some more on helping them fix a lot of things in their country & moving some of that manufactuing out of China & back to Mexico. For everybody above there, I live in Texas, so yes I care.

Answer 3

Given that the PRI is out and that they've got that IFE to sort votes and stuff, I'm guessing the election wasn't rigged.

If it was rigged, however, at least it means that Obrador won't go in there and screw up the country.

Answer 4

It was The Cleanest Mexican Election I have ever witnessed. Both counts went to Calderon.

Answer 5

I am from Mexico, and i live in Mexico, and i voted in this election for the candidate that won.

What i have to say is that the institutions that organize the elections in Mexico, have been acknowledge by the world for being very efective in the organization of the elections.

In this days they have been showed all of us the lots of ways that they have created in order to have confidential elections, every question and doubt they have been able to answer, and show evidence of the correct and legal behavior of every person involved in the elections.

The votes are counted by the citizen, we all personally know one or several of the persons that counted the votes we deposit in the urns.

The corruption exists everywhere in the world, and all the proccess can improve, but we are confident of the IFE, and the TRIFE. And we have been as good in this, that the people in this institutions have been invited to help in the organizations of other countries elections.

Answer 6

I'm not really taking sides, but how can Obrador be so sure he won?

Answer 7

It was overseen by independent authorities from Europe.

Hey, one guy eariler told me that in Zolcol or something like that a civil war in Mexico was going to start tody 7/13/2006.

Answer 8

I'm an American and I don't live in Mexico but the questions of our elections being padded are a concern with Diebold.

Answer 9

I would not be surprised if Calderon fixed it. Just look at the U.S. presidential elections. Democracy is dead.

Answer 10

If you listen to a damned liberal, every lost election is rigged.

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Where's my Bush yard sign, democraps?

A 40 year-old liberal man is more immature than a 16 year-old conservative.