Perry says fights among Mexican leaders a good sign

Web Posted: 12/01/2006 10:23 PM CST

Marion Lloyd
Houston Chronicle

MEXICO CITY — The fistfights between rival congressmen that spiced up Friday's presidential inauguration here are a sign that democracy finally has arrived in Mexico, said Texas Gov. Rick Perry.
"It's a natural progression in a democratic society, a free society," he told reporters several hours after attending the drama-packed swearing-in ceremony for President Felipe Calderón.


In fact, Perry said, it's nothing unheard of north of the border.

"It's not like there's never been a fight on the house floor in Texas," he said. "I'm just not sure there were any chairs that were thrown."

Perry and California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger watched the spectacle from a second-floor balcony of Congress. Sitting below them was former President George Bush, who led the White House delegation.

The violence erupted after opposition congressmen, who accuse Calderón of stealing the July 2 election, tried unsuccessfully to block him from taking office.

Perry praised Calderón as a man of like mind on both economic and security issues. He said he hoped to meet within the next two months.

Calderón favors opening the way for foreign investment in Mexico's energy sector — a longtime demand of the Texas oil companies. Mexico's constitution currently forbids it.

"The fact is that there are substantial energy resources that could really help the economy of this country," Perry said.

Perry said he and Calderón also share common concerns on immigration and skyrocketing drug violence.

"We need to craft and pass an immigration bill that allows those who are basically economic immigrants to move back and forth across that border," he said, adding that he opposes building a wall along the majority of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Perry also called for more cooperation on the drug fight.

"This isn't Mexico's problem," he said. "If you don't have a market for it, if you don't have the demand side, the supply side goes away. And we have just as much responsibility in this."

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