Harris Whitbeck looks at the groundbreaking first day of Mexico's new president

December 1, 2000
Web posted at: 7:10 p.m. EST (0010 GMT)
http://www.cnn.com/2000/WORLD/americas/12/01/whitbeck.debrief/

CNN Mexico City Bureau Chief Harris Whitbeck is in the Mexican capital covering the inauguration of new President Vicente Fox, the first head of state not belonging to the former ruling party, the PRI, in more than seven decades.

Q: There's been a lot of attention focused on Vicente Fox's inaugural address, to interpret what kind of president he will be. What was noteworthy in his speech?

Whitbeck: He gave the impression of being a very proactive type of leader. He promised that by next Tuesday he would propose that Congress address the issue of the southern state of Chiapas. He said he would propose a new law that would take into account Zapatista rebels' demands for the recognition of Mexican Indians, [one] that would give them more representation and more participation in the country's political life.

Q: How are Mexicans reacting to his address?

Whitbeck: I think in general it was very, very well received. He said a lot of things that Mexican people were hoping to hear. But there was a certain amount of skepticism. He made a lot of promises that if they are kept, would be wonderful -- that seems to be the attitude of the people.

But there is a feeling of promise in the air that you hadn't seen before. People are betting a lot on the Fox presidency. Others say that nothing could be worse than the last 70 years, that anything would be better.

Q: Are supporters of Fox's rival party, the former ruling party, the PRI, worried that the new president will undo decades of progress?

Whitbeck: No, I think their attitude is that he's promised all these things that he'll never be able to accomplish. But even among a lot of PRI supporters there isn't as much opposition to him as one would have expected.

Q: It seems that Mexico's new president broke a few traditions this inauguration day.

Whitbeck: He's broken a lot of traditions. This morning he met with a group of street children in downtown Mexico City, and he had breakfast with them. While it was an event that was obvious staged for the press, it was the first time that a Mexican president had ever been seen in such close contact with the people and with groups that have been marginalized for so long.

There was one Indian woman who came up and said to him -- there were tears rolling down her eyes -- that never in her lifetime had she expected to be speaking to a Mexican president, and never had she expected to be heard. Fox throughout his campaign and throughout his transition has insisted that marginalized groups like the poor and street children and Indian groups and such would have a voice in his government. So his actions this morning drove that point home quite clearly.

Q: It was also reported that he visited the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Whitbeck: That's right. He also went to pray to the Virgin of Guadaloupe, who is the patron saint of Mexico. That is another break. The separation between church and state in Mexico had been quite clear for decades. In fact, it wasn't until 1995, I believe, that formal diplomatic relations were instated between Mexico and the Vatican.

And then during his speech at the National Auditorium after he had taken office, one of his adopted daughters came on stage and presented him with a crucifix as a present, which I'm sure raised some eyebrows among political traditionalists who had always insisted on a very, very clear separation of church and state.

Q: Does it seem like he's trying to break down that barrier between church and state, or is he trying to further convey the image that he is with the people?

Whitbeck: I think it's more of a "I'm with the people" statement. When he makes public appearances, he always talks about the fact that he grew up on a ranch. In fact, during his speech this morning he made reference to experience he had gained in learning how to plant crops and that that was good experience for governing the country.

He's always tried to make it very clear that he comes from the people and that he's very much in touch with them. He still wears his cowboy boots and his silver belt buckle that has his last name on it. He's not the stiff, distant president that has been the style of Mexico for the last 71 years.

Q: What can we expect from the new government regarding U.S. relations?

Whitbeck: They have said that fundamentally the relationship with the United States has been very good and very solid, albeit a relationship that has been marked by distrust on both sides.

The new Mexican foreign minister, Jorge Castaneda, told me a couple days ago that now that the Mexican government has all the credentials of democracy and that nobody can question the legitimacy of the Mexican government, that it is time for Mexico to be taken more seriously. And he would hope that the United States would start considering Mexico as more than just a neighbor, but as a diplomatic partner in tackling multilateral issues. He would like to see the relationship take on a new dimension, to go beyond bilateral relations.

Q: Is there a mood of celebration on the streets?

Whitbeck: Today's a holiday, so the streets are much more quiet than usual. Here at Zocalo, Mexico City's main square, people are starting to gather. There is going to be a popular celebration tonight organized by the Fox inaugural group. There is a general festive mood. I wouldn't say dancing in the streets but people certainly seem happy.

Q: Is there anything else you'd like to mention?

Whitbeck: Tomorrow, we expect Zapatista Subcommander Marcos to speak to the press in Chiapas and he's expected to give his take on the Fox inauguration. People see that as a good thing, some people see it as an overture of sorts. So there is a lot of hope that the Chiapas conflict might be on its way to being solved. Fox in his speech today said that he wanted that solved quickly.