At the same time California Governor Jerry Brown and Enrique Peña Nieto traded compliments this week, a survey was released showing that almost two-thirds of Mexicans are unhappy with his presidency.
Peña Nieto was paying a visit the Sunshine State, where he shared the stage with Democrat Brown, who is running for an unprecedented fourth term.
Meanwhile back home, Mexicans seemed unsurprised by the findings of a Pew Research study indicating that 60 percent of the population disapprove of Peña Nieto’s economic programs and only 30 percent are “satisfied with the country’s direction.”
According to the survey, one-third of the Mexicans questioned said they would move to the United States if they had the opportunity. Of these, 17 percent confirmed they would do so illegally.
With Latino voters making up more than 23 percent of California’s electorate, it’s no wonder Brown was so chummy with the Mexican president, despite his apparent unpopularity at home.
Events this week show that perceptions of Peña Nieto’s performance are vastly different depending on which side of the border you are making the observation.
Two weeks ago, Peña Nieto signed into law historic reforms that allow private companies to invest in energy for the first time since the nationalization of the oil industry in 1938. Since then, editorialists and analysts outside of Mexico have wasted no time in lauding the resolve of a man they believe might lead this country into a new economic dawn, one that CNN’s Farid Zakaria said could make the United States, Mexico and Canada “the world’s most important, vibrant and interdependent economic unit.”
With a few exceptions, the international view of the energy reform package is that it is a long overdue measure that will lead to billions of dollars of new investment and spur a much more rapid cycle of economic growth.
So why are most Mexicans – apart from vested interests – not jumping for joy?
Even withstanding the traditional skepticism average Mexicans have toward their leaders, the energy reforms simply do not resonate outside the nation’s business elite and upper-middle class. While only hardened left-wingers may take to the streets to protest the new laws, most Mexicans believe the changes will make no difference to their lives. The promises of lower electricity costs in a matter of years will have to be seen to be believed. In addition, Peña Nieto’s reforms in the areas of communications, labor and finance are viewed as simply favoring the business rather than working class. And his educational reforms designed to increase teaching standards and reduce the influence of unions, while well intentioned, may take decades to have any significant impact.
Writing in the Financial Times this week, Peña Nieto said Mexico’s reform agenda is “now complete,” adding that “our goal is to make Mexico more open, productive and competitive, with sound public finances and skilled human resources; so we can play a more active role in the global economy and provide our people with a better quality of life.”
Any impact the reforms may have will not be seen before next year’s midterm elections but the outcome of the vote will give a clear indication whether Mexico is finding its president any more palatable that at present.