On Mexico’s election (and Iran’s, and ours)

To the extent that it gets any mention whatsoever, Mexico’s congressional election on July 5th has been depicted, by the US media, as a tremendous comeback victory for the PRI, and a big setback for “President” Calderon’s party, the PAN. As for the PRD–the party of Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, whose presidential victory was stolen in 2006–this election was, we’re told, a huge defeat. As the Wall Street Journal put it (with barely disguised glee):

The biggest loser on the day was the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution, which came within a hair of winning the presidency in 2006. Early returns showed it winning just 12% of the vote.

Well, all such coverage is way off–as US coverage of elections generally (our own especially)
tends to be. In fact, as Michael Collins argues here, the real story in this last election was the
staggering number of those Mexicans who elected not to vote. So neither major party can lay
claim to a legitimate win, since the people turned in a major vote of “no confidence” in the
system, because–like ours–it’s utterly corrupt.

MCM

A prediction – Mexico’s July 5, 2009 Elections
Without any doubt, the winning party will be ?
By Michael Collins

“The boycott of the election by registered voters will gain a clear plurality, around 48%, and possibly a majority, of registered voters.” Collins, Jul 5, 2009

I predicted that the “boycott” movement in Mexico would win the election hands down. That was the outcome. However, boycott did even better than my guess of 48% (a combination of those who didn’t vote and those who deliberately voided ballots in protest).

Mexico literally began the dignity and democracy global movement in 2006 when crowds of one million each filled the center of Mexico City to protest what was for sure a stolen election. Now there’s a movement to deliberately void ballots, and a larger bloc of voters who just stay home.

Voting must mean something for voters. If there’s no point they’ll stay home.

Read more.

Originally posted: On Mexico’s election (and Iran’s, and ours)

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