| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Congreso de la Unión / Congress of the Union |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name (generic / translated) |
Cámara de Diputados / Chamber of Deputies |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Cámara de Senadores / Senate
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
5 July 2009 |
| Timing and scope of renewal |
Elections were held for all the seats in the Chamber of Deputies on the normal expiry of the members' term of office. |
At stake in the July 2009 elections were 500 seats in the Chamber of Deputies.
In the previous elections held in July 2006 in parallel with the elections to the Senate and the presidency, the National Action Party (PAN) won 206 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) and Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) took 126 and 104 seats respectively. Five other parties won less than 20 seats each. Mr. Felipe Calderon (PAN) won the presidential elections, pledging to tackle crime.
Upon assuming the post in December 2006, President Calderon launched a war on drug gangs by deploying thousands of troops. However, drug-related violence remained rampant, killing over 6,000 people in 2008 and the first half of 2009. The global economic crisis that originated in the United States severely affected Mexico. Although President Calderon responded by implementing tax cuts for business and investing in infrastructure projects, Mexico's economy was expected to shrink by 5.5 per cent in 2009.
In April 2009, the country was hit by an outbreak of swine flu (H1N1 influenza). By the end of June, it had killed over 100 people and affected some 10,000 people. Although the election campaign officially started on 3 May, most parties initially refrained from holding rallies due to the epidemic. In the run-up to the polls, rallies were held in accordance with government health guidelines, requiring participants to stay at least seven feet away from each other.
In the 2009 elections, the PAN was once again challenged by the PRI. The latter had dominated the country's presidency from 1929 until the election of Mr. Vicente Fox (PAN) in 2000. PRI's new leader, Ms. Beatriz Elena Paredes Rangel, emphasized that the party had learned from its errors, referring to past corruption problems. The PRI used a slogan "proven experience, new attitude", recalling over seven decades of the party's leadership. It pledged to provide new economic policies to tackle the economic crisis.
President Calderon pledged to continue to tackle crime. According to the government, crime-related deaths dropped by 26 per cent in the first trimester of 2009. He urged voters' to allow the PAN to continue to work for economic growth, job creation and public safety.
The PRD led by Mr. Jesús Ortega also vowed to tackle organized crime. However, it was reportedly losing ground due to internal splits.
Polling took place without major incidents in most areas, except in the state of Guerrero where 11 people, including a PRD town councillor and his family, were killed.
Turnout was reportedly low among the 78 million registered voters.
The PRI won a decisive victory securing 237 seats, up from 104. The PAN came in second with 143 seats, losing 63. The PRD took 71 seats, losing 55. Of all the eight parties represented in the outgoing Chamber, only the Social Democratic and Peasant Alternative Party (ALT) failed to win seats. 141 women were elected.
On 29 August, the newly elected Chamber of Deputies held its first session and elected Mr. Francisco Ramírez Acuña (PAN) as its new Speaker.
|
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 5 July 2009 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% of votes |
|
|
| Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| National Action Party (PAN) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Green Party of Mexico (PVEM) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Labour Party (PT) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| New Alliance Party (NA) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Convergence Party (CONV) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total of seats
|
Majority seats |
Proportional seats |
Number of women |
|
| Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) |
237
|
184 |
53 |
53 |
|
| National Action Party (PAN) |
143
|
70 |
73 |
48 |
|
| Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) |
71
|
39 |
32 |
21 |
|
| Green Party of Mexico (PVEM) |
21
|
4 |
17 |
9 |
|
| Labour Party (PT) |
13
|
3 |
10 |
4 |
|
| New Alliance Party (NA) |
9
|
0 |
9 |
4 |
|
| Convergence Party (CONV) |
6
|
0 |
6 |
2 |
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
359
141
28.20%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
|
| Comments |
Sources:
- IPU Group (18.07.2009, 02.09.2009, 01.01.2010, 19.03.2010)
- http://www3.diputados.gob.mx/camara/001_diputados/005_grupos_parlamentarios |
