Mexico City – Texas Gov. Rick Perry said the turmoil that surrounded President Felipe Calderon’s inauguration Friday was a sign of Mexico’s progress toward a more mature democracy.
Perry and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger were part of a delegation of U.S. dignitaries who sat in the balcony of Congress and watched Calderon take the presidential oath after a morning brawl between his allies and opponents who tried to keep him from his swearing-in ceremony.
“That seems to me to be to be a natural progression in a democratic society,” Perry told reporters. “People are feeling comfortable about expressing their opinion and what have you, so I was pretty excited about a little fisticuffs, a little protest.” The conservative Calderon won a June vote by less than a percentage point over his leftist rival Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who claimed the election was stolen and recently declared himself Mexico’s “legitimate president.” Lopez Obrador’s party allies led the unsuccessful effort to block Calderon’s inauguration. Afterward, the former candidate led tens of thousands in a protest march.
The Texas governor said he believes Mexico is making headway in improving its economy and urged increased competition under Calderon. He said he plans to speak to Calderon about energy cooperation between Texas and Mexico.
He also said the United States and Mexico share equal responsibility for drug trafficking.
