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Election Monitoring Missions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 September 2012

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

Ceisteanna (175)

Eoghan Murphy

Ceist:

175. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding the outcome of the recent Mexican presidential elections, following reports of vote-rigging, vote-buying and unfair media coverage during the campaign. [38030/12]

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Freagraí scríofa

The Presidential election in Mexico took place on 1st July 2012. Enrique Peña Nieto, the candidate of the PRI - the Institutional Revolutionary Party - has been confirmed by the Mexican electoral authorities as the winner of the election and will take office on 1 December. Mexico’s legislative framework for elections is highly detailed and provides for independent and non-partisan electoral bodies and dispute mechanisms. Reforms in this area in recent years have strengthened further the framework and the transparency of the electoral process. Some 30,000 Mexican and 500 foreign observers were registered as observers for Election Day, including the officers of the Embassy of Ireland in Mexico City. The European Union and the Organisation of American States, amongst others, conducted specialist oversight of the election.

Availing of the legislative provisions open to him, the candidate who came second requested the Mexican Federal Electoral Institute to conduct a recount, claiming widespread voting irregularities. He lodged also a detailed law-suit with the Federal Electoral Tribunal alleging vote buying, media bias and other abuses in favour of the PRI candidate. The Federal Electoral Institute recounted close to 55% of the presidential ballot. It confirmed the result in favour of Mr Peña Nieto by a significant margin. The Federal Electoral Tribunal endorsed this result, confirming that the election was carried out in line with legislation and rejecting the various claims made as grounds to nullify the election. This outcome is consistent with the views of respected international observers. I warmly congratulate Mr Peña Nieto and wish him every success in fulfilling his mandate. I look forward to the enhancement of our bilateral relations with Mexico in the period ahead.

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