Calderon Becomes President of Mexico

RAY SUAREZ:

The official ceremony was rushed and followed brawling and chair-throwing in the Mexican congress. But Felipe Calderon was able to take the oath as Mexico's new president, replacing Vicente Fox.

FELIPE CALDERON, President of Mexico (through translator): The people have chosen me. I will work for the good of the country and the prosperity of the union. And if I don't do it, may the people demand it.

RAY SUAREZ:

Both the outgoing and incoming presidents are members of the pro-business and pro-trade National Action Party, known as PAN. But Calderon's opponent, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, labeled the July election count "fraudulent." He's refused to concede in the 12 weeks since the country's highest court certified Calderon's win.

Obrador, of the more leftwing Democratic Revolution, or PRD, Party, has declared himself "shadow president," swearing himself in before a huge crowd last month. His supporters have staged protests across the country.

With the congress in an uproar, outgoing President Fox took off the ceremonial presidential sash in a hastily arranged midnight swearing-in ceremony at the presidential palace. Calderon appealed for unity in a televised message.

FELIPE CALDERON (through translator):

I do not ignore the complexity of the political times we are living, nor our differences. But I am convinced that today we should put an end to our disagreements and from there start a new stage whose only aim is to place the national interest above our differences.

RAY SUAREZ:

The new 44-year-old president comes into office promising to create jobs and reduce poverty, but he also faces major unrest outside Mexico City. Nearly 3,000 people have been killed in the last two years in an increasingly ruthless war between rival drug gangs; 500 of those deaths occurred in Calderon's home state of Michoacan this year alone.

The popular tourist destination of Oaxaca has been the scene of escalating violence. A teachers' strike that began in May mushroomed to a broad protest against the state and national governments. Nine people have been killed in clashes between demonstrators and police.

And for more, we talk with Jorge Castaneda, who served as Mexico's foreign minister during the Fox administration. He's now a professor at New York University. And Pamela Starr, an analyst at the Eurasia Group, a risk consulting firm, she was previously a professor at the Autonomous Technical Institute of Mexico in Mexico City for eight years.