Word: defeatism
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...declared the victor over Margarita Ortega Villa, the candidate of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (P.R.I.) in the race for governor. Once officially confirmed this week, Ruffo's victory will mark the first time in the 60-year history of the P.R.I. that the party has conceded defeat in such an election. "It is a decisive event," says political analyst Jorge Castaneda, "the first that will have an authentic historic significance in this administration...
...charges that he was elected by fraud, vowed that "opposition victories will be respected." He has led a forceful campaign against corruption by arresting powerful drug lords, businessmen and labor leaders. Yet he is still perceived as someone elected by and for the Establishment. The P.R.I.'s acceptance of defeat in Baja is considered a critical test of Salinas' ability -- and desire -- to enforce reform within his own party...
Nonetheless the scandal is taking its toll. Last week an L.D.P. candidate lost badly (51% to 44%) to a Japan Socialist Party member in a by-election in Niigata prefecture, usually considered solidly L.D.P. The ruling party was quick to blame the three woes for its defeat. Niigata is the heart of rice- growing country, and the main farming cooperatives declined to endorse the L.D.P., citing the agriculture protection issue...
Although elections for the European Parliament may still be more symbolic than substantive, the balloting shattered British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's image of invincibility last week. Her Conservative Party suffered its first national defeat in nearly 15 years, capturing only 34.7% of the vote and losing 13 of its 45 European Parliament seats. By contrast, the left- leaning Labor Party totted up 40.2%, stirring dreams among Laborites of ousting Thatcher from power at home...
Elections for the Strasbourg-based assembly, once consigned to the status of a European debating society, are fast becoming a bellwether for European politics. Thatcher aides sought to downplay the Tory defeat by arguing that the culprit was domestic discontent with Britain's 15% interest rates and 8.3% inflation. Even critics within her own party scoffed, blaming her Britain- first, anti-European rhetoric at a time when Europe is moving toward economic integration in 1992. Said a Tory backbencher: "She got it drastically wrong...