Mexico election sees old guard PRI reclaim power with Enrique Pena Nieto at helm

The Mexican presidential candidate for the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), Enrique Pena Nieto, accompanied by his wife Angelica Rivera, celebrates after learning the first official results of the presidential election, at the party's headquarters in Mexico City, July 1, 2012. / Getty

Updated at 3:43 a.m. Eastern

(AP) MEXICO CITY - Mexico's old guard sailed back into power after a 12-year hiatus Sunday as the official preliminary vote count handed a victory to Enrique Pena Nieto, whose party was long accused of ruling the country through corruption and patronage.

The second place candidate, leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, refused to concede, saying he would wait for a full count.

The Federal Electoral Institute's representative count said Pena Nieto of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, won about 38 percent of the vote, prompting wild cheers from a party that was voted out in 2000 after 71 autocratic years in power. Lopez Obrador of the Democratic Revolution Party had 31 percent and Josefina Vazquez Mota of the ruling National Action Party had about 25 percent, according to the institute.

Pena Nieto, who sought to cast himself as the leader of a new PRI, called his victory "a fiesta of democracy."

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"There is no return to the past," said the youthful, 45-year-old who is married to a soap opera star. "You have given our party a second chance and we will deliver results."

He promised a government that would be democratic, modern and open to criticism. He pledged to fight organized crime and said there would be no pacts with criminals.

"My gratitude tonight is for the millions of Mexican who voted for me," he said. "I will work for all of Mexico ... I will govern for everyone."

Despite a clear victory, more than 60 percent of voters did not support him and it was not the mandate the PRI had anticipated based on the pre-election polls.

Vazquez Mota, 51, was the first to concede, followed by New Alliance candidate Gabriel Quadri, who had only single-digit support.

At the PRI headquarters in Mexico City, a party atmosphere broke out with supporters in red dancing to norteno music.

There were plenty of reasons to celebrate. The party also appeared likely to retake at least at least one of the two houses of Congress and some governorships.

Critics say the party's 71-year rule was characterized by authoritarian and corrupt practices. But the PRI has sought to portray itself as a group that has been modernized and does not seek a return to its old ways.

Enrique Pena Nieto appears to be accomplishing what many thought would never happen again: the return of a strong and dynamic PRI," said Eric Olson of the Washington-based Mexico Institute. "The question: How will they govern?"

Lopez Obrador took hundreds of thousands of supporters to the streets in protest when he narrowly lost in 2006.

"We hope the candidate of the left will act with democratic maturity and also recognize the results," Coldwell said.

Vazquez Mota garnered little more than 23 percent in exit polls released by Milenio and TV Azteca networks and quick count by Mitofsky. Lopez Obrador had about 30 percent of the vote.

The PRI has been bolstered by voter fatigue due to a sluggish economy and the sharp escalation of a drug war that has killed roughly 50,000 Mexicans over the past six years.

Hugo Rubio, 33, a municipal employee in Nezalhualcoyotl, says what he expects is "more jobs, more tranquility in terms of security" under Pena Nieto.

"He has demonstrated that (the party) had changed, that he cares about the people who are most in need," Rubio said at a red-clad crowd of supporters gathered with banners and balloons.

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[kennonk]

75-90% of all of Mexico's corruption problems would be solved almost overnight if the US reformed it's drug laws. Eliminating their revenue stream of drug money would do to the cartels what the repeal of prohibition did to organized crime in the US, nearly eradicate it. If we spent 10% of our enforcement and interdiction budget annually on treatment and prevention programs we would also save the US taxpayer a bundle of money.

[Tallaman87]

Mexico has made improvements by leaps and bounds over the past 20 years - if they keep improving the level of education of its citizenry, they will take advantage of their resources and access to two oceans and their economy will rival the US.

[expatriate2]

Did any ever compare to George W. Bush?

[UForgotPoland]

If by "leaps and bounds" you mean near collapse, complete corruption, and what should be labeled a civil war, then yes Mexico has made great improvements. It's a failed state, plain and simple.

[Deathlimits]

Well, there goes Mexico.

[smittyc]

The old guard was in power for a long time. Hopefully their return will allow tourist to begin enjoying this beautiful country once again and return Mexico to a state of calm.

[ammo17]

i don`t think mexico ever had an honest government,and we are getting closer and closer to them.

[TheStoicOne]

The Mexican government, for whatever reasons, is incapable of eradicating the drug cartel, just as the U. S., cannot or will not rid our streets, of drug trafficking. It is said, that our economy, with government involvement, thrives on the drug business, that our intelligence apparatus, controls the global drug trade. If so, then it will only get worse, not better. Once you know the truth, what to expect, then you know what you must do.

[Nocults]

Supply and Demand.

Like hookers, and gambling, it will not go away.

[tmittelstaed]

The Mexican government can eradicate the drug cartel but it does not want to do it. To eradicate it they just need to declare martial law for a while and bring in other Latin American military as well as US military, shoot to kill, and send anyone they capture to the US.

But the drug trade brings in too much money from the US, it would ruin the Mexican economy.

All the Mexican government wants is greatly curtailed gang violence and killing. And they will attempt to do it the way that they did in the bad old days, by targeted killing of drug gang members so as to even out the score between the gangs.

I don't think it will work - but the PRI will certainly try.

[LordoftheNile]

Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose...

[luisapb]

shame