Political pragmatism: principles lose out when an election's in sight.

In the first week of March, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the National Action Party (PAN) took giant leaps toward preparing for the 2006 electoral battle.

The PRI held its XIX National Assembly and the PAN selected a new national leader. Both events were characterized by a preference for political pragmatism over party principles; both sought to assuage the fears of the private sector and the conservative wings of their respective parties. The PRI is seeking to return to Los Pinos; the PAN is determined to remain there.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

PRI Assembly

Four years after losing the presidency, the PRI has strengthened its political clout, winning state and municipal elections in impressive fashion.

As Fox's term winds down, the PRI has Los Pinos in its sights. This is the glue that holds the PRI together.

This common goal has allowed PRI party president Roberto Madrazo to withstand calls to step down and mediate brawls among party members. He has been able to modify party statutes that recall the heyday of technocratic rule, when Carlos Salinas ruled the PRI.

The PRI now says it will support loosening restrictions on Pemex in hopes of establishing new alternatives for development. The previous National Assembly had been unequivocal about defending Articles 27 and 28 of the Constitution, dogmatically blocking any privatization in the underfunded energy sector.

The change reflects two central objectives of the former rulers. One goal is to project an image of a responsible party in touch with the developmental needs of the nation. The other is to cater to an increasingly disenchanted entrepreneurial class that is fed up with the lack of progress on reform.

The support of business is key, since the PRI needs cash for its presidential campaign due to the fine imposed by the Federal Electoral Institute for violations during the last presidential election.

Espino To Lead PAN

Manuel Espino stunned political observers by winning the PAN presidency. Linked to the ultra-right wing of the party, Espino defeated favorite Carlos Medina Plascencia, a senator and a former governor of Guanajuato.

Presidential candidate Felipe Calderon--representative of traditional PANismo and its doctrine--had been backing Medina. Interior Secretary Santiago Creel--also a presidential hopeful--couldn't conceal his glee.

Espino cobbled together a National Executive Committee comprised of several party factions, but the ultra-right is well positioned and members of "traditional" PANismo were excluded.

One reason Espino won is the party's disastrous performance in recent elections, the weak leadership of the outgoing president, Luis Felipe Bravo Mena (especially as regards the internal battles over the presidential nomination), and the inability to establish a clear relationship between the party and the administration.

The party needs fearless leadership mixed with pragmatic action.

The PRI's decision to support energy reform favored the more conservative actors within the PAN. With the PRI angling to curry support from the private sector, the PAN knew it had to strengthen its traditional base there. The PAN will not cede its control over the private sector without a fight. After all, support from the business class is what helped the party reach Los Pinos.

These recent events augur an extremely tight battle in 2006. With these two parties embracing pragmatism, the question is how will the Party of the Democratic Revolution and its likely candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador respond? The guess here is the PRI and the PAN hope Lopez Obrador chooses the path of radicalism, making him less attractive to the electorate.

Joel Estudillo Rendon (joestudillo@yahoo.com) is a member of the board of the Instituto Mexicano de Estudios Politicos.