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Mexico ex-President Miguel de la Madrid dies at 77 | Mexico ex-President Miguel de la Madrid dies at 77 |
(1 day later) | |
Former Mexican President Miguel de la Madrid has died at the age of 77 after a long illness. | Former Mexican President Miguel de la Madrid has died at the age of 77 after a long illness. |
Mr de la Madrid led Mexico for six years from 1982-1988, introducing free-market reforms in response to a severe economic crisis. | Mr de la Madrid led Mexico for six years from 1982-1988, introducing free-market reforms in response to a severe economic crisis. |
But his administration was criticised for its response to the huge earthquake that hit Mexico City in 1985. | But his administration was criticised for its response to the huge earthquake that hit Mexico City in 1985. |
Current President Felipe Calderon expressed "profound sadness" at the news of his death. | Current President Felipe Calderon expressed "profound sadness" at the news of his death. |
He said Mr de la Madrid had confronted "hard adversities" during his rule. | He said Mr de la Madrid had confronted "hard adversities" during his rule. |
A lawyer and economist, Miguel de la Madrid was a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which ruled Mexico for most of the 20th Century. | A lawyer and economist, Miguel de la Madrid was a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which ruled Mexico for most of the 20th Century. |
He worked his way up through the party hierarchy, serving as a minister under his predecessor, Jose Lopez Portillo. | He worked his way up through the party hierarchy, serving as a minister under his predecessor, Jose Lopez Portillo. |
Austerity | Austerity |
But once in office, he broke with the PRI's traditional policies by promoting free-market economic reforms. | But once in office, he broke with the PRI's traditional policies by promoting free-market economic reforms. |
He privatised hundreds of state-owned companies and promoted foreign trade and investment. | He privatised hundreds of state-owned companies and promoted foreign trade and investment. |
Faced with soaring inflation and mounting foreign debt, he implemented stringent austerity measures, cutting wages and laying off many public sector workers. | |
His biggest challenge came in 1985, when Mexico City was struck by a magnitude 8 earthquake that killed more than 10,000 people. | His biggest challenge came in 1985, when Mexico City was struck by a magnitude 8 earthquake that killed more than 10,000 people. |
His government was widely criticised for its slow response to the disaster. | His government was widely criticised for its slow response to the disaster. |
His time in office saw growing political opposition to the PRI, with some left-wing members breaking away to form the Democratic National Front. | His time in office saw growing political opposition to the PRI, with some left-wing members breaking away to form the Democratic National Front. |
It ended in 1988 with intense controversy over the election of his successor, PRI candidate Carlos Salinas, in a vote that was widely believed to have been fixed. | It ended in 1988 with intense controversy over the election of his successor, PRI candidate Carlos Salinas, in a vote that was widely believed to have been fixed. |
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