Weekly Report - 13 January 2004

The leftist Partido de la Revolución Democrática (PRD) has begun to gear up for its March congress, a crucial event on the road to the 2006 presidential elections which is also focused on the most immediate of its challenges: the gubernatorial contests to be held in 10 of Mexico's 31 states, two of which are currently ruled by the PRD. The party is preparing for a mammoth organisational effort, especially in those districts where its share of the vote is low — and a move is afoot to shake off the unwritten power-sharing agreement between internal factions. The PRD will be working to a tight calendar.