Vicente Fox

Vicente Fox Quezada (born July 2, 1942) is the President of Mexico, the first opposition party candididate to win this office in Mexico in some 90 years.

Fox was born in Mexico City, and grew up on a farm in the state of Guanajuato. His education included the Universidad Iberoamericana[?] and Harvard University.

After graduation he went to work for the Coca Cola Company, starting off as a route supervisor and driving a delivery truck. He rose in the company to become supervisor of Coca Cola's operations in Mexico, and then in all of Latin America.

Fox joined the PAN (National Action Party) party in the 1980s, and in 1988 was elected to congress representing León, Guanajuato. He ran for governor of Guanajuato in 1991, and many think he got the most votes, but the ruling PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) candidate was declared the winner in what a number of observers considered a dishonest fix by the PRI. In 1995 he won the governorship of his state by a wide margin and took office. His term as governorship was noted for honesty and transparency of government, and the economy of Guanajuato flourished. Fox was nominated as the PAN party's Presidential candidate for 2000.

Fox was was elected President for the constitutional period 2000 - 2006. His PRI Party promotes greater free market for the economy and conservative values and policies. He is the first Mexican president since the revolution who was not supported by the PRI.

His election was historically significant because he is the first President elected from an opposition party since Francisco I. Madero in 1910.

History

• 23 to 26 January 2003 : visit to Davos, Switzerland
• 26 to 28 January 2003 : visit in Netherlands, he will meet Jan Peter Balkenende, freshly elected Prime minister and queen Beatrix.