Women press for more political power in Mexico

In Mexico, 52 percent of voters are women

June 22, 2000
Web posted at: 10:19 p.m. EDT (0219 GMT)

In this story: Campaigning for women's votes Not easy being a trailblazer RELATED STORIES, SITES

MEXICO CITY (CNN) -- Tere Vale, who is running for mayor of Mexico City, is the only female candidate in Mexican history ever to participate in a televised political debate.

"We have achieved some openness, but we are really just starting," Vale said about the role of women in Mexican politics.

The mayor of Mexico City and the presidents of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party and opposition Party of the Democratic Revolution all are women. Women also hold 21 seats in the Senate and more than 90 in Congress.

But, despite the fact that 52 percent of Mexico's prospective voters are women, there remains a relatively low level of female representation in Mexican politics.

Each candidate in the July 2 presidential election has staged rallies to garner women's votes. But despite the attention, polls show the average Mexican woman feels she is not adequately represented and that she does not have equal access to economic opportunity.

According to official statistics, the vast majority of families living in extreme poverty are headed by women, while 75 percent of illiterate Mexicans are women.

Mexico City mayoral candidate Vale

Vale says she wants legislation "to ensure equal opportunities for women so they can get out from under the difficult economic situations they face."

Rosario Robles was appointed Mexico City mayor when Cuauhtemoc Cardenas left office to run for president as the candidate of the Party of the Democratic Revolution. She says it has not been easy being the first.

"When I was first named to the post, there were many who wondered if I would be able to take on the task," she said. "But after a few months, people realized I am capable of governing in a responsible manner."

And more women are looking to gain positions of public power in Mexico. Hundreds of them hope to be voted in to public office in the July elections.

CNN Mexico City Bureau Chief Harris Whitbeck contributed to this report.

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Federal Electoral Institute
PRI (in Spanish)
PAN -- National Action Party (in Spanish)
Mexican history of politics
Internet resources on Mexican politics
InterWeb Mexico
Institutional Revolutionary Party
Greetings from Mexico City, Mexico!
CIA World Factbook: Mexico
Mexico -- Democracy 2000: Three articles on Mexican Elections

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