How was one party dominance in …

Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) earlier known as National Revolutionary Party was founded in 1929 and exercised power in Mexico for almost six decades. It represented the legacy of the Mexican Revolution. Originally, PRI consisted of various interests including political and military leaders, labour and peasant organisations and numerous political parties. Over a period of time, the founder of PRI, Plutarco Elias Calles captured the organisation and in this manner the government too.

• Elections were held at regular intervals, and it was the PRI which won every time.
• Other parties existed in name only so as to give the ruling party greater legitimacy.
• The electoral laws were operated in a manner so as to ensure that the PRI always won.
• Elections were often rigged and manipulated by the ruling party.
• Its rule was described as ‘the perfect dictatorship’.
• Finally, the party lost in the Presidential Elections held in 2000.

Mexico was no longer a one-party dominated country. However, the tactics adopted by the PRI during the period of its dominance had a long-term effect on the health of democracy. The citizens have yet to develop full confidence in the system of democracy and the fair nature of elections.