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Calderon Begins Transition Preparations in Mexico

While Felipe Calderon continued to claim victory in Mexico?s recent presidential elections, supporters of leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador continued their own protests against the election results on Wednesday. Calderon announced on Wednesday that he was organizing a transition team to take over from current Mexican president Vicente Fox, who is of the same party as Mr. Calderon. Hoping to build a coalition government to bring Mexicans together after this divisive election, Calderon has asked his campaign director, Josefina Vazquez Mota, to begin talks with other parties.

?We have begun working toward the transition between the administration headed by President Vicente Fox and the administration I will have the honor of leading starting December 1,? said Calderon. ?I will build a climate of reconciliation, and I will tour the country, in my role as winner of the election, which I won in part because of the votes of states in the south.? Lopez Obrador?s supporters, and Mr. Lopez Obrador himself, claimed during the election campaign that Felipe Calderon only represented the richer Mexican states in the northern portion of the country.

Leaders from around the world, including the President of the United States, George W. Bush, have already congratulated Calderon. However, his victory will not be complete until Mexico?s ?Federal Electoral Tribunal? decides whether or not to buy allegations of election irregularities. European Union election observers, however, declared the election free and fair and noted no irregularities.