Luis Donaldo Colosio

Luis Donaldo Colosio Murrieta (10 February 1950 – 23 March 1994) was a Mexican politician who was murdered during a stop on his presidential campaign.

Campaign for president

After a slow start, with the spotlight focusing on former foreign minister Manuel Camacho Solís's negotiations with the EZLN guerrillas, Colosio appeared to get the traditional support of the political machine of the PRI. Like all the PRI´s previous presidential candidates, he was greeted by large crowds throughout his presidential campaign, the PRI' waning popularity meant some reduction in enthusiasm. Since the Mexico's constitution permits presidents to remain in power for only one term, and as a extralegal rule presidents (until Salinas) handpicked their own successors (the party's first primary election in history took place in 1999), Colosio apparently enjoyed the president's favour, expressed in his famous declaration No se hagan bolas: el candidato es Colosio (Don't get it wrong: Colosio is the candidate).

Related Topics:
Manuel Camacho Solís - EZLN - Mexico's constitution - Primary election - 1999

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Salinas' declaration was motivated by persistent rumours that highly visible Camacho Solís would replace Colosio, who was not doing well in his campaign. Camacho let speculation grow for some time, but eventually declared he wouldn't run for office, concentrating his attention on Chiapas situation instead. The day after Camacho´s statement, Colosio was killed.

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