Mexican Civil Society Rises Up to Protest Ruling Party's Attempt to Keep Progressive Candidate Off Presidential Ballot

Interview with John Ross, journalist and author, conducted by Scott Harris

When Mexico's Institutional Revolutionary Party or PRI -- in power for 71 years -- lost the presidential election in 2000 to Vicente Fox of the conservative National Action Party, many Mexicans were hopeful that their nation, after seven decades of one party rule would finally move toward democracy. But as Mexico prepares for its next presidential election in 2006, there is growing concern that Fox's government is using familiar dirty tricks to prevent Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the mayor of Mexico City, from running in the race that polls suggest he would win.

At the behest of the Fox administration, the Mexican Congress stripped Lopez Obrador, the nation's most popular progressive politician, of his immunity from prosecution on dubious contempt of court charges related to a stop work order on the building of an access road to a hospital. Outraged at the perceived undermining of democracy, Lopez Obrador's supporters from throughout the country have staged two giant protest rallies in Mexico City's Zocalo or central square. The latest silent demonstration on April 24th, with an estimated 1 million participants, may have been the largest such political gathering in recent Mexican history.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with journalist and author John Ross who has lived and worked in Mexico for decades. Reached by phone in Mexico City, Ross reports on the diverse pro-democracy movement that has rallied to support the candidacy of Lopez Obrador of the party of the Democratic Revolution and how the Bush administration has responded to the actions of their ally Mexican president Vicente Fox.

John Ross's latest book is titled, "Murdered by Capitalism," published by Nation Books. Read Ross's articles online by visiting the Counterpunch website at www.counterpunch.org

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