Mexico City, May 7 (PL-RHC) -- The four Mexican presidential candidates put their cards on the table on Monday during the first public debate, organized by the Electoral Federal Institute (IFE) ahead of the July 1st elections.

For two hours, the four candidates answered questions and analyzed issues such as insecurity, organized crime, corruption and the reduction of poverty, which affects nearly 52 million citizens.

Enrique Peña Nieto, from the Revolutionary Institutional Party (PRI) and the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (PVEM); Andres Manuel López Obrador, representing the Progressive Movement; Josefina Vázquez Mota, from the National Action Party (PAN); and Gabriel Quadri, from the New Alliance Party (PANAL), presented their proposals about all these issues.

The three main candidates, Peña Nieto, López Obrador and Vázquez Mota, blamed one another for the country’s bad economic performance over the past few years and the condition that led to the current crisis of violence and insecurity.

An estimated 5,000 citizens followed this debate from two big screens installed in Zocalo Square in Mexico City. In the ongoing campaign, the election authorities have organized two presidential debates; the second is scheduled for June 10.

Nearly 80 million citizens are called to vote in July to elect the president of the nation for the next six years (2012-2018). About 628 seats in Congress (500 legislators and 128 senators), six governors and the head of government of the Federal District -- totaling 2,127 public posts-- will also be elected.

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