BY ANDRES OPPENHEIMER
MONTERREY, Mexico -- Francisco Labastida, 57, candidate for the
ruling
Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), has been a public servant
for nearly four
decades. He studied economics at the National Autonomous University
of
Mexico, and did post-graduate work in Chile. He served as Secretary
of Energy
(1983-86), governor of Sinaloa state (1987-92), ambassador to
Portugal (1992-94)
and interior minister (1998-99). He is married to historian Maria
Teresa Uriarte and
is the father of five children. Main points of Labastida's interview
with The Herald
last week:
His government goals: ``I'm going to be inflexible in the battle against corruption.''
His economic program: ``I don't envision Mexico in any other way
than inserted
into the globalization process. I hope globalization succeeds.
I will work for the
triumph of globalization. But it's clear to me that, without
stopping the ongoing
changes, there are two major problems we have to solve: [improving]
our justice
system, and tackling poverty and creating jobs.''
Dollarization: ``I wouldn't go for it. . . . What's important
is good management of
the economic fundamentals. That means to keep inflation down,
lower the fiscal
deficit and have an orthodox monetary policy. Once you do that,
the rest falls in
place.''
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): ``I will seek
a broader
agreement in terms of convergent economic policies, a broader
agreement in
terms of convergent financial policies, and a broader agreement
in terms of
migrant workers.''
Foreign policy: ``We have to take a step forward and [make a]
change toward the
defense of democracy and human rights. ``On Cuba, it's a case
that I will study
with particular care. I think we have to make a defense of democracy,
and I will
discuss this with my foreign policy advisors.''
Other foreign policy projects: ``I would launch a program of economic
support for
Central America, not just to increase trade but to promote long-term
development
there.''
Copyright 2000 Miami Herald