Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Calderón's Political Choice

Mario Campos is struck by the incongruence in Calderón's priorities on political reform and his party's on social issues:
The most interesting things is that while President Calderón seems to be betting on the image of his government --coming from the PAN-- as one that is fighting to broaden democracy through citizen candidacies, legislative reelection, popular initiatives, and other similar measures, proposals that identify it as a party of opening and at the vanguard of the democratic agenda, his party has carved itself out as thes standard-bearer of the most conservative issues, such as its opposition to abortion choice and gay marriage.

Which of these two faces will be the one that voters identify as they head to the voting booths? Those who have worked on compaign know that this is not a minor question because during an electoral race it becomes complicated to offer one, not to mention two or more, ideas to the voters, a task that becomes almost impossible when the ideas are so different.

What do they think in Los Pinos of this situation, will they be comfortable with the campaign that has placed them on the side of the Church? Will they feel that this is the issue by which they want to be identified as a political force? Or on the contrary, will it have a different vision, with a desire to impulse and move forward on a reform agenda that could do something to make a difference in the rules of Mexicans politics.

We will see in the next few weeks which of these visions prevails and marks the identify of the PAN.
Indeed we will. I believe Calderón's political reform will carry the day, but perhaps that's wishful thinking.

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