The Guadalajara Reporter

The PRI’s young contender steps into the presidential ring

Surprising no one, the early frontrunner in next year’s presidential election officially announced his candidacy live on television last week.

“To be clear, frank and open,” Enrique Peña Nieto told Televisa’s El Noticiero program, “yes I want to be president, yes I want to be the candidate of my party.”

With a commanding lead in the polls, the photogenic 45-year-old former governor of the State of Mexico is firm favorite not only to clinch the nomination of the resurgent Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), but also to win the presidential election outright. Made four days after leaving the governor’s office, his announcement confirmed the news many in Mexico had long been awaiting.

The heir apparent of the PRI must now persuade voters that his party is different from that which ruled Mexico with an iron fist for seven decades until 2000. Many commentators are sceptical as to whether the party, which was notorious for both buying and stealing votes, has really changed.

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