Felipe Calderón

Felipe Calderón, born on August eighteenth, nineteen sixty-two, is a prominent Mexican politician and lawyer who served as the sixty-third president of Mexico from two thousand six to two thousand twelve. Before his presidency, he held significant roles, including Secretary of Energy during Vicente Fox's administration from two thousand three to two thousand four and National President of the National Action Party (Partido Acción Nacional, PAN), a party he was affiliated with for thirty years until his departure in November two thousand eighteen.

Calderón's ascent to the presidency was marked by a contentious election in two thousand six, where he narrowly defeated Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the PRD by a mere zero point six percent of the total votes. His victory was confirmed by the Federal Electoral Tribunal after a disputed electoral process. Shortly after taking office, Calderón declared a war against drug cartels, a move seen as a strategy to bolster his legitimacy following the tumultuous elections. This declaration led to the implementation of Operation Michoacán, which initiated significant federal force deployments against drug gangs.

His presidency was characterized by a dramatic increase in violence, with official estimates indicating that sixty thousand people lost their lives in the drug war during his tenure. Additionally, Calderón's administration faced the challenges of the Great Recession, which saw the national debt rise from twenty-two point two percent to thirty-five percent of GDP by December two thousand twelve, while the poverty rate increased from forty-three to forty-six percent.

Calderón's term also witnessed several notable achievements, including the establishment of ProMéxico in two thousand seven, criminal justice reforms passed in two thousand eight, and the founding of the Pacific Alliance in two thousand eleven. He also oversaw the creation of sixteen new Protected Natural Areas and the achievement of universal healthcare through Seguro Popular in two thousand twelve. After completing his presidency, he began a fellowship at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in January two thousand thirteen.

In recent years, Calderón has faced scrutiny regarding his administration's ties to organized crime, particularly following the arrest and conviction of Genaro García Luna, his Secretary of Public Security, for drug trafficking. A significant portion of the public has called for investigations into Calderón's knowledge of these connections, reflecting the ongoing complexities of his legacy.