IEV confirms PRI victory

The Veracruz Electoral Institute (IEV) has confirmed the results of Sunday’s statewide elections. PRI, the core member of the ‘Fidelidad por Veracruz’ political alliance, will now control 28 of 30 state congressional seats, having earned 46% of the total popular vote. It also won 155 of 212 races for municipal president. Of course, theories are beginning to surface on how PRI was able to fair just as well they did, considering their relatively poor showing in the previous 2004 elections. Below, I’ve listed three especially crucial reasons that are being given for PRI’s growing dominance.

1) As should probably be expected the representative of the Alianza Fidelida por Veracruz, Fernando Vázquez Maldonado, emphasized the important role that the strategically-formed alliance played in PRI’s success. Maldonado told reporters having strong and progressive parties in its alliance allowed PRI to form a strong political platform from which to launch its campaigns.

2) A member of the national Congress, Adolfo Mota Hernández, told reporters that it was the alliance’s close affiliation with the governor that ensured its victory.

(Gov.) Fidel Herrera won the election because of his proximity to the people of the state, because he is making good government, because he has put in more than 120 days of work and for the response he gave to victims of the recent hurricanes. (Courtesy of Diario de Xalapa; trans. from Spanish)

3) As I’ve already mentioned, nearly 80 years of being basically the only bully on the playground has given PRI a leg up on its capacity to organize its campaign efforts and to mobilize supporters come election day. More recently, the governor has given new life to the party by reinvigorating its presence in areas of the state where it hasn’t been getting as much support in recent years. Governor Herrera has also tried to tie any of his state projects or programs back to the party. By redirecting the people’s focus back to the PRI as an institution, Herrera encouraged voters to associate PRI candidates with the good that the party has achieved under his guidance.