The Triumph of Order in Mexico

Though it hasn't been as well-reported as I had thought it would be, Mexico's seven person Electoral Court finally and officially declared Felipe Calderon president-elect, after months of challenges by Leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Obrador's protests have not been confined to the halls of power, spilling on the streets chaotically, while driving down his popularity among Mexican citizens who might understandably desire stability more than anything else at this moment. Problem is, Obrador still refuses to admit defeat, and is planning to launch a huge protest in Mexico City on September 16th, where (according to some reports) he might declare himself the head of a parallel government.

In the interest of the Mexican nation, this is the last thing the country needs. Calderon faces enough problems without having this populist thorn in his side, threatening to block critical reforms (i.e. limited privatization of Mexico's state oil company and pension reform). But at the same time, and against the desires of some Mexicans, he should resist calls to disperse AMLO's protests violently - he holds the barest of majorities right now, and not everyone views him as legitimate; violence will merely further weaken his credibility and legitimacy.

The court's ruling, then, is a great step forward for Mexico's democracy, but Calderon & Co. aren't out of the woods yet. For even the hope of serious reform, AMLO and his fellow Chavistas must accept the new administration, and members of Congress must come together to lend support to a series of reforms that, while necessary, will surely prove to be unpopular to entrenched interests.