Mexican democracy advocate Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas to speak at Notre Dame | News | Notre Dame News | University of Notre Dame Skip To Content Skip To Navigation Skip To Search University of Notre Dame Notre Dame News Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Home Contact Search Menu Home › News › Mexican democracy advocate Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas to speak at Notre Dame Mexican democracy advocate Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas to speak at Notre Dame Published: February 15, 2012 Author: Elizabeth Rankin Mexican statesman Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas will speak on the contemporary political process in Mexico in a lecture at the University of Notre Dame on Feb. 22 (Wednesday). An unwavering advocate for democracy and justice, Cárdenas will draw upon his own experience in helping to open up the political process in Mexico, dominated for decades by one-party rule. His lecture, “Elections in Mexico: Change or Continuity?” will take place at 6 p.m. in the Hesburgh Center Auditorium on the Notre Dame campus. The talk is free and open to the public. Cárdenas was awarded the 2010 Notre Dame Prize for Distinguished Public Service in Latin America in recognition of his work to expand and consolidate democracy in Mexico. Administered by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, the Prize recognizes the efforts of visionary leaders to enhance the region’s welfare. In 1987, Cárdenas challenged the unwritten rule of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) that allowed presidents to designate their own successors. Leaving the party, he ran for president in 1988. He came very close to winning against the PRI candidate—indeed, many Mexicans contend that the government stole the election. “The electoral outcome triggered a popular mobilization that accelerated Mexico’s transition to democracy,” says Soledad Loaeza, professor of political science at El Colegio de México’s Center for International Studies and a former Kellogg Institute visiting fellow. “Cárdenas gave hope to many people.” The son of one of Mexico’s most revered PRI presidents, Lázaro Cárdenas, Cuauhtémoc rose through PRI ranks before becoming fed up with the party’s increasing corruption and electoral fraud. A civil engineer by training, he served as senator and then governor of the state of Michoacán. In 1989, he founded the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) and in 1997 was elected mayor of Mexico City. He ran for the presidency again in 1994 and 2000. Currently president of the Fundación para la Democracia (Foundation for Democracy), he has remained active in efforts to confront problems facing Mexico. In his Notre Dame Prize acceptance speech at the award ceremony in Mexico City, Cárdenas listed national policies to promote equitable growth through increased employment and improved education as well as a new anti-crime police force as top priorities for Mexico. Contact: Elizabeth Rankin, writer/editor, Kellogg Institute, 574-631-9184, erankin3@nd.edu Posted In: International Home Experts ND in the News Subscribe About Us Related September 30, 2022 Nanovic Institute to welcome former President of Croatia Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović September 29, 2022 Notre Dame, Ukrainian Catholic University launch three new research grants September 27, 2022 Notre Dame, Trinity College Dublin engineers join to advance novel treatment for cystic fibrosis September 14, 2022 Apostolic nuncio to Great Britain to deliver the 2022 Keeley Vatican Lecture September 12, 2022 Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street … in different countries? For the Media Contact Office of Public Affairs and Communications Notre Dame News 500 Grace Hall Notre Dame, IN 46556 USA Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube Pinterest © 2022 University of Notre Dame Search Mobile App News Events Visit Accessibility Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube LinkedIn