Mexican Presidential Candidates Debate

The upcoming presidential elections in Mexico are the focus of a debate between the three major presidential candidates in Mexico City. The front runner in the campaign is Ernesto Zedillo Poncede Leon of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party. The PRI, asit is known, has held power in Mexico for 65 years. Mr. Zedillo replaced Luis Donaldo Colosio who was assassinated in March. The other two presidential contenders are Cuauhtemoc Cardenas of the center left Democratic Revolutionary party and Diego Fernandez de Cevallos representing the conservative National Action Party. In 1988 Mr. Cardenas, who claimed that election was unfair, wonnearly one-third of the vote against current President Carlos Salinas. The Mexican presidential election takes place on August 21st. Some have voiced concern that the elections will be followed byviolence if the vote is perceived as corrupt and unfair. close