Mirroring the stance of many U.S. candidates, Peña Nieto declared himself personally opposed to abortion, but likewise against criminal penalties for women who decide to get one. Put another way, the candidate could be politically described as "pro-choice." On the topic of same-sex unions, Peña Nieto believes that there should be no federal law on the subject, but rather that each of the country's 32 states should define and regulate marriage as it sees fit, applying established "community standards." Peña Nieto's stance on gay marriage is in accord with current Mexican law on the subject, which is unlikely to change anytime soon since the nation's Supreme Court dealt with it recently. Mexico's highest court upholds right of same-sex couples to marry.
Mexico has no federal laws which protect either the right to life or the right to procure an abortion. The Supreme Court took up the issue last year, but by a narrowly divided vote failed to strike down statutes in some states which criminally punish abortion. The highest tribunal thus did just the opposite of what the United States Supreme Court did in the 1973 case of Roe vs. Wade. That ruling declared that a woman enjoys a constitutional right to make decisions affecting her body, and that states may not criminalize abortion. No such legal principles exist here, and Mexico remains a patchwork quilt of conflicting regulations on abortion. It's legal in a few places like the Federal District (Mexico City), and expressly illegal elsewhere (such as Baja California). Many states have no law at all on the subject, but they don't need one. Getting an abortion most places is difficult. A few Supreme Court ministers (judges) have said that Mexico's constitution recognizes (at lest by implication) a right to life, or a "right to be born," while other ministers opine just to the contrary, and argue that the woman's decision should be paramount in every case. The issue will likely be revisited during the six year term of Mexico's next president, but it's impossible to say which view will ultimately prevail. The Catholic Church is firmly opposed to all abortion.
PRD candidate Manuel López Obrador hasn't taken a public stance this campaign season on either of these issues. Accurate or not, the perception and presumption is that he supports abortion and same-sex marriage. Both are lawful in Mexico's Federal District, where López Obrador served as governor from 2000-2005. But abortion (first-trimester) did not become legal in Mexico City until April 2007, long after López Obrador was gone from office. And same-sex marriage, which was approved in December 2009, did not take effect there until March 2010. It's unclear why López Obrador has refused to disclose his feelings on these important issues, while the other nominees have not hesitated to do so.
PNA candidate Gabriel Quadri shares Peña Nieto's views on abortion. But with respect to gay marriage he believes there should be an absolute right to enter into same-sex unions, and that the legality of such should not be left to the discretion of individual states. The recognition of unions irrespective of the sex of the partners "strengthens the social fabric," according to Quadri. "I'm a liberal, and I believe in individual liberties," he said today.
Josefina Vázquez Mota is on record as being firmly against the recognition of same-sex marriage, a position in accord with the more socially conservative inclinations of PAN. She has also said she believes life begins at conception, and is therefore strongly opposed to abortion. But Vázquez Mota doesn't favor criminal penalties for women who procure one.
Abortion opponents challenge PRD candidate López Obrador at papal Mass: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.mx/2012/03/abortion-opponents-challenge-prd.html.
Mexican Catholic Church urges faithful to vote with "reflective conscience": http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/02/mexican-catholic-church-urges-faithful.html.
Mexico's Supreme Judicial Court fails to strike down state anti-abortion laws: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/09/mexicos-supreme-judicial-court-fails-to.html.
Mexico grapples with abortion; First Lady sides with pro-lifers: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/09/mexico-grapples-with-abortion-first.html.
Did Pope Benedict pressure Mexican Supreme Court on abortion decision?: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/09/did-pope-benedict-pressure-mexican.html.
Abortion likely to be revisited in Mexico: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/10/abortion-likely-to-be-revisited-in.html.
Gay activists protest outside of PAN headquarters: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2012/03/gay-activists-protest-outside-of-pan-hq.html.
Mexico losing Catholics: http://mexicogulfreporter.blogspot.com/2011/10/mexico-losing-catholics-even-as-relics.html.
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