A stronger Mexico now and forever

A Mexico with strong institutions — in which we can all trust — with autonomy to carry out their tasks.

A Mexico that is strong economically, so that we can live better not only today, but in which we can create a patrimony for our children’s future. A Mexico with dynamic businesses, with conditions to grow, reinvest, create more jobs and compete with whomever they have to.

A Mexico with no excuses, a Mexico with projects. A Mexico in which we all do our share of the work to do. A Mexico that is united in its responsibilities, but also in the enjoyment of rights; united in the celebration of our character and our spirit. A Mexico made up of winners, of citizens that do not allow anybody to make the decisions that are theirs to make.

That is the path of my government. Each action, each decision, each programme is designed to strengthen our Mexico; yours, mine, everybody’s. Together, we are making it come true.

In the year 2000, Mexicans made the historical decision to put an end to more than 70 years of a unilateral, authoritarian way of governing. Voting then acquired the value it should have always had: the only and unquestionable vehicle in which citizens elect those who shall govern them.

In five years of government, the improvements democracy has brought to us are many and very important. To put these improvements in their right perspective, one must only think back to the times in which the decisions made by the President of the Republic did not admit questioning. There were no checks and balances to limit them and all public decisions were made away from the people. One must only look back at the times in which the press was kept silent, using whatever means necessary.

We need only look back at authorities that acquired debt in the name of all of us and used the resources of the state for their own benefit. It fell to us, the citizens, to bear the painful crisis and currency devaluations that devastated the families’ patrimony and made our salaries less valuable by the day.

We need only look back at the past and remember how difficult and costly it was to get a credit to buy a house, in the midst of a myriad intermediaries and corrupt officials. Or we may remember how millions of Mexicans lived without any health coverage, having to pawn their hard-earned assets in case of serious illness.

This is why those of us who love Mexico said: Enough! This is why we chose to steer Mexico to a democratic, honest and transparent path. We are leaving behind the days of authoritarianism and populism in order to build a Mexico that offers a better future for our children.

A strong Mexico, one that offers more and better opportunities for all. Today, 25 million Mexicans below the poverty line receive aids through the Opportunities Programme. Today, more than six million girls, boys and young men and women have scholarships to go on studying. Today, 12 million Mexicans are protected by the new People’s Security. Today, two million three hundred thousand families have made their dream of owning their home come true.

What has been attained until now is the result of the effort, the will and the work of everyone: of the people and its organisations, of the federal government, of local governments and of the Powers of the Union. Improvements are self-evident. And even though we have come a long way, it is necessary to ensure this change we have all pushed for can continue.

There still is much to be made. Democracy needs us and demands all our efforts. Each Mexican woman and man has a task to carry out. Only united, only working together, shall we attain our goals and our highest aspirations.