Mexican Presidents and Key Events: 1970-2024
Mexico’s Political and Economic History: 1970-2024
The Dirty War (1970s Onward)
The Dirty War period in Mexican history, beginning in the 1970s, saw the rise of several guerrilla groups. These groups sought political support for the poor and aimed to end political repression.
Key Presidencies and Events
- José López Portillo (1976-1982): His presidency coincided with the discovery of significant oil reserves. By the end of his term, the dollar was valued at 70 pesos.
- Miguel de la Madrid Hurtado (1982-1988): Introduced Neoliberalism to Mexico and presided over the devastating 1985 earthquake. The earthquake affected Mexico City, Morelos, Mexico State, Guerrero, Puebla, Veracruz, and Jalisco. His response to the earthquake was criticized as slow and inadequate.
- Carlos Salinas de Gortari (1988-1994): Elected under a highly contested process, his administration implemented PRONASOL (Solidaridad), a government program designed to combat extreme poverty and foster economic growth. The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was signed during his tenure, aiming to reduce trade barriers between Mexico, the United States, and Canada. The EZLN (Zapatista Army of National Liberation) began its rebellion in Chiapas on January 1, 1994.
- Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta: The PRI’s presidential candidate, tragically murdered in Tijuana on March 25, 1994.
- Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León (1994-2000): Governed during a severe economic crisis, including the December Error, also known as the Tequila Crisis, which took years for Mexico to recover from. His administration also dealt with the aftermath of FOBAPROA, a fund that effectively nationalized private bank debt.
- Vicente Fox Quesada (2000-2006): Marked the end of the PRI’s long hold on power.
- Felipe Calderón Hinojosa (2006-2012): Initiated the controversial Drug War.
- Enrique Peña Nieto (2012-2018): Signaled the return of the PRI to the presidency. His administration faced investigations into ‘La Estafa Maestra,’ uncovering significant diversion of federal resources.
- Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024): Became the first leftist president since Lázaro Cárdenas. He founded the MORENA party, which contended in the 2018 and 2024 elections.
Key Concepts
- Plan Condor: A political and military plan implemented by the U.S. in Latin America during the Cold War.
- Neoliberalism: A set of economic policies advocating for reduced governmental intervention.
- Technocracy: A system of governance where decisions are made by technical specialists.
- Technocrat: An expert in technical or economic fields who supports market-based economic regulation.
- Washington Consensus: A set of economic policy prescriptions forming the basis of Neoliberal Reforms.
- Privatization: The transfer of ownership from government to private entities.