Roberto Madrazo Pintado (born July 30, 1952) is a Mexican politician and member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party. He was the candidate of the alliance between his party and the Ecologist Green Party of Mexico (PVEM) in the 2006 Mexican presidential election. He served as Governor of Tabasco from 1995 to 2000.

Early years

Madrazo was born in Villahermosa, Tabasco, to Carlos A. Madrazo and Graciela Pintado Jiménez. His father was a reformist politician at a time when the PRI was the only viable party. Both of his parents died in a plane crash when he was sixteen. Although his father came from humble roots, his prestige allowed Roberto to become one of Mexico's elite. He studied law at the National Autonomous University of Mexico in Mexico City and urbanism at the University of California at Los Angeles, and headed the PRI Youth.

Early political career

Between 1976 and 1988, he represented Tabasco in both the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. He served as governor of Tabasco from 1994 to 2000. As governor, Madrazo acquired a reputation as a populist politician who promoted economic development.

2000 presidential election

Madrazo sought the PRI's presidential candidacy in 2000 but lost to Francisco Labastida, a former governor of Sinaloa and former Secretary of the Interior in the cabinet of President Ernesto Zedillo, whom Madrazo perceived as having chosen Labastida as his successor in the Mexican political tradition of the dedazo ("the finger", referring to hand-chosen presidential succession). As a candidate, Madrazo was described as having "populist flair".

Personal life

He is married to Isabel de la Parra Trillo.

References

  • Madrazo for President website
  • "Who is Who in the Mexican Presidential Election", Paola Reyes, Vista Magazine