Saturday, December 1, 2012

President Elect Peña Nieto Takes Office As Protests Continue Over Buying Mexican Election

Enrique Peña Nieto

Thousands of students staged protests as Mexican President elect Peña Nieto takes office.

By H. Nelson Goodson
December 1, 2012

Mexico City - On Saturday, thousands of students protested near the federal Mexican legislative chambers as President elect Enrique Peña Nieto briefly arrived to get his presidential banner from outgoing President Felipe Calderon. Neito briefly spoke in the legislative Congressional chamber and the presidential banner was transferred over.
Peña Nieto was showered with paper checks as he and his wife walked into the chamber by the opposition alleging that he bought the election by giving out debit cards to a portion of the low income population to get their votes.
On Friday, President Calderon had officially handed power to President elect Peña Nieto.
Peña Nieto represents the new Revolutionary Institutional Party (PRI). The PRI gained the reputation of being corrupt and having ties with organized crime and drug cartels. 
Under Peña Nieto, his administration will be more laxed about going after drug lords and eliminating drug cartels compared to former Calderon's administration. Calderon's administration is credited for capturing or killing 80 percent of the most wanted major drug lords in Mexico. 
More than 60,000 people have been killed under the Calderon administration war against drug cartels.
Calderon is credited for stabilizing Mexico's economy and creating jobs while other countries suffered a recession.

Protests at Mexico's government palace over Peña Nieto's inauguration.

Photos: Facebook

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