Peña Nieto, Enrique (1966-…), was president of Mexico from 2012 to 2018. Peña Nieto belongs to the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). He served as governor of the state of México from 2005 to 2011. Peña Nieto is known for his good looks and his marriage to Mexican soap opera star Angélica Rivera.
Peña Nieto was born on July 20, 1966, in Atlacomulco, México state. Many powerful members of the PRI have come from Atlacomulco. Peña Nieto received a bachelor’s degree in law from Panamerican University. He also received a master’s degree in business administration from the Monterrey Institute of Technology. He joined the PRI in 1984.
Peña Nieto held several positions in the government of México state from 2000 to 2002. In 2003, he won election to the state legislature. In 2005, Peña Nieto was elected governor of México, a position he held until 2011. Four of Peña Nieto’s relatives had previously been governor of the state. As governor, Peña Nieto focused on building public works and improving infrastructure.
Peña Nieto won Mexico’s presidential election on July 1, 2012. He took 38 percent of the vote. Peña Nieto pledged to improve Mexicans’ standard of living, fight drug-related crime, and maintain openness and accountability in government. Peña Nieto’s victory marked a political comeback for the PRI, which had controlled the federal government for almost 70 years before a 2000 defeat. Some people worried that Peña Nieto’s election marked the return of the PRI’s authoritarian style of rule. Others viewed Peña Nieto as the new, more democratic face of the PRI.
Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the Party of the Democratic Revolution placed second in the July 2012 election. However, he challenged the results, calling for a nationwide recount of votes. López Obrador and members of a student group called #YoSoy132 accused the PRI of buying votes and paying the Televisa television network to give Peña Nieto favorable coverage. Mexico’s Federal Electoral Institute carried out a partial recount of votes and confirmed Peña Nieto’s victory. Peña Nieto took office in December. López Obrador won the presidential election in July 2018 and replaced Peña Nieto in December.
