Vicente Fox Wins Presidency — 71 Years of PRI Rule Ends

PAN candidate Vicente Fox Quesada won Mexico's presidential election on July 2, 2000 with 42.5% of the vote, defeating PRI's Francisco Labastida (36.1%) and PRD's Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas (16.6%). For the first time since 1929, Mexico had a peaceful transfer of power to an opposition president. Zedillo conceded within hours. IFE's credibility made a fair count possible. Fox declared: 'We have achieved one of the most significant achievements in the history of Mexico — true democracy.' The date is considered Mexico's democratic transition moment.