The most recent listing of Mexican state governors available to the Research Directorate is attached to MEX33261.E of 1 December 1999, available through Regional Documentation Centres. The list attached to it was updated by the Embassy of Mexico in Ottawa on 30 November 1999. The only recent elections and changes to the list reported by the sources consulted refer to the State of Coahuila, which held gubernatorial elections in late-September 1999. The elections were won by Enrique Martinez, of the incumbent Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) (AFP 27 Sept. 1999; Mexico & NAFTA Report 26 Oct. 1999, 2), who took office on 1 December 1999 (Coahuila 17 Mar. 2000). The next gubernatorial elections are scheduled for 2 July 2000, at the same time as the federal presidential elections, in the states of Guanajuato and Morelos (Mexico & NAFTA Report 11 Jan. 2000, 2).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 27 September 1999. "Mexico's Ruling Party Defeats Opposition Alliance in State Election." (NEXIS)

Coahuila State Government, Mexico. 17 March 2000. "Discurso de Toma de Posesion." http://www.coahuila.gob.mx/discu.htm [Accessed 4 Apr. 2000]

Latin American Regional Reports: Mexico & NAFTA Report [London]. 11 January 2000. "Elections in Mexico in 2000."

_____. 26 October 1999. "Alliance Breaks Up."

Embassy of Mexico, Ottawa.

IRB Databases.

Mexico NewsPak [Austin, Tex.]. Sept. 1999-Mar. 2000.

Internet Websites, including:

Instituto Federal Electoral (IFE), Mexico.

Secretaria de Gobernacion, Mexico.