Enrique Peña Nieto received support from a left-wing political organization that joined in support of Peña Nieto’s presidential campaign. The PRI-PVEM candidate considered this to be an “unprecedented” act.

Peña Nieto was endorsed by members of the Movimiento de Izquierda Alternativa, headed by independent senator René Arce (founder of the PRD) who resigned from the PRD arguing that the political party had distanced itself from its leftist beliefs.

These members of the left expressed support for both the PRI presidential candidate and the candidate for mayor for Mexico City, Beatriz Paredes, during a public event entitled “Alianza por un proyecto de país” (Alliance for a Country Project) that took place last Tuesday at the Gran Forum located in the southern part of Mexico City.

“The step that we give today is unprecedented and also shows the innovative and modern attitude that myself, my political party, and the Mexican left want to have in order to serve Mexico,” expressed Peña Nieto.

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On March 19th, 2012, Jesús Zambrano, President of the PRD (Partido de la Revolución Democrática), addressed an audience at the Woodrow Wilson Center as part of the Mexico Institute’s Diálogos con México/Dialogues with Mexico speakers series. The event was cosponsored by the Inter-American Dialogue.

In his talk, entitled “The Mexican Elections and the Future of Social Democracy in Mexico,” Zambrano discussed some of the priorities for his party in the current election season. These included dealing with the pressing problems of poverty and inequality, public insecurity, designing an economic policy that generates growth throughout the country, and the need for a government of ‘national reconciliation’ between the various political factions in Mexico.

Zambrano believes that the defeat of the long-ruling PRI by the PAN in 2000 “did not signify a true transition to democracy,” but, rather, that everything remained virtually the same. While acknowledging that the PAN governments did not use repression as a means of responding to the demands of Mexicans, he also argued that the PAN has not delivered on many of its promises.

“This year is the prime opportunity to generate political conditions within the left that will bring back the confidence of the electorate,” Zambrano stated. Since its inception and in the context of Mexican politics, the left has been regarded as radical group in direct contraposition with the business-driven values of the private-sector. The controversial outcome of the 2006 presidential election and the reactionary way in which the defeated candidate of the left called for a non-violent demonstration created in the Mexican citizenry a fear and distrust of the left.

Zambrano, however, defends the argument that the left in Mexico has changed. “Belonging to the left no longer means wanting radical change through violence. Today, being from the left means that one is truly willing to fight against crime through the lawful implementation of social programs that can temper social inequality.”

During this presentation, Zambrano also made the following prediction in regards to the presidential election: “It is likely that the PRI will continue to fall and that the PRD’s presidential candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador will rise.” With a left that has occupied various echelons of government, it remains to be seen if the left in Mexico will finally be given an opportunity to prove itself from the presidency.

To watch webcast, click here.