Weekly Report - 9 December 2003

Compromise, as we anticipated (WR-03-47), proved not to be an option to overcome the rift in the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI). Instead, within less than a week the split had spread from the congressional bloc to one of the most important PRI-controlled labour federations. In the broader political arena, both PRI factions have issued assurances that the work of congress — which includes the much publicised tax reform proposals — will not be obstructed, but these do not yet offer any clear indication of possible outcomes.