A Preview of Mexico’s Upcoming Elections

In the final days before the Mexican presidential, gubernatorial and municipal elections on July 1, the country’s citizens face intense anxiety over the current levels of violence and uncertain economic prospects. The next president will have to consider promoting innovative policies on security, economic growth and political stability. The new president must be able to lead the country through global economic uncertainty, negotiate with the legislature, and persuade the Mexican people that they can take back their government from drug cartels and criminal mafias.

On June 29, the Latin America Initiative at Brookings hosted a discussion on the challenges facing the future Mexican government. The discussion was based on recent research conducted by Mexican and U.S. scholars on key economic, security, political, educational and energy issues facing Mexico. Panelists included: Arturo Franco Hernández, resident fellow at the Center for International Development at Harvard University; Carlos Ramírez, an analyst with the Latin America practice at the Eurasia Group; and Christopher Wilson, associate with the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Diana Negroponte provided introductory remarks and moderated the discussion.