Institutional Revolutionary Party summary

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Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), Political party that dominated Mexico’s political life for most of the time since its founding in 1929. It was established as a result of a shift of power from political-military chieftains to state party units following the Mexican Revolution (1910–20). Until the late 1990s, nomination to public office by the PRI virtually guaranteed election, but in 1997 Mexico City elected its first non-PRI mayor. At the national level, the president, as leader of the party, typically selected the party’s next presidential candidate—thus effectively choosing his own successor. Pres. Ernesto Zedillo broke from that tradition in 1999, and the following year opposition candidate Vicente Fox won the presidency, although the PRI maintained control of several state governments and regained the presidency in 2012.

Mexican Revolution Summary

Mexican Revolution, (1910–20), a long and bloody struggle among several factions in constantly shifting alliances which resulted ultimately in the end of the 30-year dictatorship in Mexico and the establishment of a constitutional republic. The revolution began against a background of widespread

Lázaro Cárdenas Summary

Lázaro Cárdenas was the president of Mexico (1934–40), noted for his efforts to carry out the social and economic aims of the Mexican Revolution. He distributed land, made loans available to peasants, organized workers’ and peasants’ confederations, and expropriated and nationalized foreign-owned

Enrique Peña Nieto Summary

Enrique Peña Nieto Mexican politician of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (Partido Revolucionario Institucional; PRI) who served as the president of Mexico (2012–18). Prior to becoming president, he served as governor of the state of México (2005–11). Peña Nieto was born in México state and

political party Summary

Political party, a group of persons organized to acquire and exercise political power. Political parties originated in their modern form in Europe and the United States in the 19th century, along with the electoral and parliamentary systems, whose development reflects the evolution of parties. The