MEXICAN ELECTIONS

That this House notes with concern the continuing uncertainty and widespread perception of electoral malpractice arising from the recent presidential election in Mexico; recognises that over the last decade Mexico has made significant progress in establishing democratic institutions, including an independent electoral agency, the Federal Electoral Institute; accepts that the Presidential election has left the country deeply divided along north-south lines and that the next President must seek national reconciliation to govern effectively; is aware that widespread ballot-rigging was a significant factor in past elections, including the Presidential polls of 1988 widely seen in Mexico to have been stolen and reaffirms the need for Mexico's democracy to be open and transparent and to be seen both nationally and internationally as such; and calls on the federal election authorities to take the necessary steps to certify the integrity of the ballot as a precursor to the full disclosure of all information on the electoral process and on the relevant authorities to do everything in their power to ensure the credibility and accuracy of the poll and the democratic legitimacy of the next President of the Mexican Republic.