President Pena Nieto's Anti-Crime Pledge Tested in First Year Laurent Thomet - Agence France-Presse
go to original November 29, 2013

According to a report published in the circulation journal 'Reforma,' in the nine months of Enrique Peña Nieto being President of Mexico, an increase of 35 percent was recorded in reports of abductions in the same period as the last year during Felipe Calderon's presidential term. (Global Report News)

MEXICO CITY - Gruesome mass graves, relentless drug cartels and emerging vigilantes have put Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto's pledge to reduce violence to the test in his first year in power.

Pena Nieto has sought to switch world attention to economic issues since taking office on December 1, 2012, passing education, telecommunications and fiscal reforms as part of his drive to "transform" Latin America's second biggest economy.

His next ambitious project aims to open the state-controlled oil sector to foreign investment, a plan that will draw new protests led by the left when he marks one year in power on Sunday.

But despite his efforts to focus on the economy, security remains in the spotlight after more than 70,000 people were killed in drug violence during his predecessor's six-year term.

"The numbers for these first 11 months are encouraging," Pena Nieto said on November 7. "There has been an noticeable drop in homicides committed in the country."

The latest official figures show that 15,350 murders were committed between January and October compared to 21,700 in 2012 -- though the government no longer says how many are linked to drug violence.

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