In a 27 August 1997 telephone interview, a representative at the National Action Party (PAN) headquarters in Mexico City stated that PAN senator Juan De Dios Castro Lozano was elected to the Senate in the August 1994 Durango state elections. The source also stated that 12 PAN candidates won their elections for municipal president in the following Durango municipalities: Canelas, El Loro, Guadalupe Victoria, Guanacevi, Lerdo, Ocampo, Panoco de Colorado, Pueblo Nuevo, San Juan de Guadalupe, San Luiz del Cordero, Santiago Papasquiaro and Vicente Guerero (ibid.).

In a 28 August 1997 telephone interview, a representative at the PAN parliamentary group in Mexico City stated that two PAN candidates from Durango state were awarded seats in the Chamber of Deputies in the 6 July 1997 election. The source added that Juan Carlos Guttierez and Margarita Perez Gavilan Tores indirectly won their seats through proportional representation (ibid.).

The attached 7 September 1994 SourceMex report and 10 March 1996 Dallas Morning News report state that the PAN made some electoral gains in the state of Durango in the August 1994 election. The SourceMex report adds that the PAN managed to secure a Senate seat after winning a tight race against the Labour Party (PT) in the August 1994 state-level election (7 Sept. 1994). Another SourceMex report states that the PT has strong support in Durango state (16 Aug. 1995). For additional information on the PT and its August 1995 win in the Durango City municipal elections, please consult Response to Information Request MEX27349.E of 25 July 1997.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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.

References

The Dallas Morning News. 10 March 1996. Home Final Edition. Alfredo Corchado. "Mexican Opposition Party Elects Leader." (NEXIS)

National Action Party (PAN), Mexico City. 27 August 1997. Telephone interview with a representative.

National Action Party (PAN) Parliamentary Group, Mexico City. 28 August 1997. Telephone interview with a representative.

SourceMex [Albuquerque, N. Mex.]. 16 August 1995. John Ross. "Divided Democratic Revolution Party Reaches a Crossroads." (NEXIS)

_____. 7 September 1994. "Final Vote Count Confirms PRI Candidate Zedillo Received More Than 50 Percent of the Vote in Presidential Election." (NEXIS)

Attachments

The Dallas Morning News. 10 March 1996. Home Final Edition. Alfredo Corchado. "Mexican Opposition Party Elects Leader." (NEXIS)

SourceMex [Albuquerque, N. Mex.]. 7 September 1994. "Final Vote Count Confirms PRI Candidate Zedillo Received More than 50 Percent of the Vote in Presidential Election." (NEXIS)

Additional Sources Consulted

The Europa World Year Book 1996. 1996.
INS Resource Center. March 1994

. Mexico: Elections and Political Violence.

Mexico NewsPak [Austin, Tex.]. 1994-1997.

Political Handbook of the World 1997. 1997.

Reding, Andrew A. July 1995. Mexico: Democracy and Human Rights in Mexico.

Electronic sources: DIRB Databases, Global News Bank, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database), World News Connection (WNC).