[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 95 (Tuesday, July 8, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1374-E1375]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          ELECTIONS IN MEXICO

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ELTON GALLEGLY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 8, 1997

  Mr. GALLEGLY. Mr. Speaker, 2 days ago, the United States and all the 
nations of the Americas witnessed one of the most dramatic

[[Page E1375]]

expressions of democracy ever held in this hemisphere in modern times.
  The recent national elections in Mexico represented the clearest sign 
yet that the principles of democracy, freedom of expression, and the 
turn to true multiparty representation has taken a strong hold in the 
hemisphere and promises to serve as a model for the rest of the 
Americas.
  The people of Mexico should be very proud of themselves for effecting 
what was apparently the fairest and freest election in Mexican history. 
The people of Mexico should also be proud of the government of 
President Ernesto Zedillo, who despite the fact that the voters threw 
his party into serious election defeat, was bold enough to initiate and 
to enact the significant election law reforms which resulted in these 
elections being so transparent.
  The people of Mexico should be congratulated for overcoming what 
surely was a healthy amount of skepticism of the reforms and for going 
to the polls to express their will in support of change for truly 
representative government. Without their faith, their cooperation, and 
their participation, the changes proposed by President Zedillo would 
not have mattered.
  The political parties of Mexico and their successful candidates 
should also be commended for their participation and for conducting 
such clean and apparently corruption-free campaigns. Through these 
elections, Mexico has truly turned the corner and has seriously 
committed itself to real democracy.
  Now, however, comes the hard part. Can the PRI accept the will of the 
people and relinquish some of the decisionmaking authority it has so 
long held. Can the Chamber of Deputies work together to forge 
coalitions to fashion policies which will benefit all of the people of 
Mexico. Can the Zedillo government work with the Chamber to provide 
economic growth and social justice. Can the PAN governors of some of 
Mexico's wealthiest states work with the Federal Government for a 
greater Mexico. Can the PDR mayor-elect of Mexico City work 
cooperatively with the Federal Government to govern an unruly city 
which needs help in so many facets of everyday life.
  Whatever the outcomes of these questions, there can be no doubt that 
what happened on July 6 was a tremendous boost to democracy not only in 
Mexico but throughout all of the Americas.
  As chairman of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, I want to offer 
my congratulations to the government of President Zedillo, to all of 
the successful candidates, and most especially to the people of Mexico 
for making this election a benchmark in Mexican history and a shining 
example of how democracy should work for the rest of the hemisphere.

                          ____________________