ABSTRACT
The political sources of presidentialism in Mexico have been changing in the last two decades. This chapter addresses salient features in the administrations of Ernesto Zedillo and Felipe Calderon. It describes the relevant aspects of their political careers and professional experience in government. The chapter explores the nature of their relations with their respective parties and the political context in which their elections took place, principally analyzing the differences in style and approach to leadership. It also expresses their decision-making processes, and relationships with the mass media and the management of their image and popularity. The chapter analyzes the relationship between the presidents and their cabinets, Congress and the judicial branch. Analyses of presidential leadership in transitional democracies consider the numerous components and traits embedded in the decision-making process used by the executive power. The decentralization of presidential power and reinforcement of the rule of law stand out as the core ideas of the democratization pursued by Zedillo in politics.
