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Two years in, Mexico still uncertain about Zedillo
December 3, 1996
Web posted at: 6:15 a.m. EST (1115 GMT)From Correspondent Harris Whitbeck
MEXICO CITY (CNN) -- Mexican President Ernesto Zedillo passed the two-year mark of his term Sunday, facing questions about his ability to lead a country with ingrained economic and political problems.
World and business leaders praise Zedillo for his steady hand in leading Mexico's return to financial stability and his work to impose the rule of law on a notoriously corrupt society. The president has also won points for his moves to dismantle Mexico's 67-year tradition of one-party rule in a so-called democracy.
But his critics charge he is an accidental head of state without the will or strength to overcome the problems facing him, particularly the economy.
Signs of discontent can be found in labor leaders chained together on hunger strike in front of a government building. They protest low wages and high prices. But Zedillo's policy of fiscal austerity offers them no justice.
In fact, Zedillo's second anniversary in office was marked by price increases for public transportation and fuel.
An opinion poll released Monday paints a bleak picture, but one with a ray of hope. For the first time since March 1995, four months after Zedillo took power, the number of people approving of the 44-year-old leader topped those who disapprove of his leadership.
Some 45 percent of people in a nationwide poll conducted every three months gave Zedillo a positive rating, against 42 percent with negative view of the president.
The Yale-trained economist did not get good ratings for honesty or his ability to manage the economy, but the numbers seemed to reflect dissatisfaction with the entrenched system as much as with Zedillo himself.
Next year "will be the real test," said leading Mexican historian Enrique Krauze. "That's when we'll see if Zedillo understands and takes on the essential incompatibility between the Mexican political system and democracy."
But some analysts say the criticisms leveled at Zedillo are unfair because, despite the current economic difficulties, he has succeeded in leading Mexico out of the financial hole left by the catastrophic 1994 devaluation of the peso and the accompanying flight of capital from the country.
The government is predicting 4 percent growth this year, after suffering through an economic contraction of 6.2 percent in 1995.
International capital has even begun a modest trickle back into Mexico in the belief that Zedillo can keep things moving in the right direction.
Reform of Mexico's inbred political system has been more difficult.
A much-vaunted consensus between all the political parties on the terms of a wide-reaching political reform law vanished a few weeks ago after the Zedillo's ruling PRI party used its majority in congress to pass its own version of the law.
The result is expected to be about $120 million in government support for PRI candidates during crucial mid-term congressional elections.
In dealing with Mexican insurgencies, Zedillo has had mixed results. Although moving steadily towards compromise and peace with the Indian Zapatista rebels in the southern state of Chiapas, he has suffered a setback with the appearance of the more violent EPR rebel group further north.
Through it all, though, Zedillo is proud of what he has accomplished over the last two years.
"Despite the economic problems, we have had a country with social peace," said Zedillo. "A country where -- not without difficulties -- democracy is being strengthened."
Related stories:
- Mexican government signs pact for economic recovery - October 28, 1996
- CNNfn - Mexico missing mega money - September 27, 1996
- CNNfn - Money pours into Mexico - August 27, 1996
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