Francisco Labastida

Who is Francisco Labastida?

Francisco Labastida Ochoa is a Mexican economist and politician affiliated to the Institutional Revolutionary Party, who became the first presidential candidate of his party to lose a presidential election, which he did in the 2000 presidential election to Vicente Fox.

He was born to Gloria Ochoa de Labastida and Dr. Eduardo Labastida Kofahl. His wife, Dr. Teresa Uriarte, was director of UNAM's Institute of Aesthetics Research. His great-grandfather fought on the side of Former Mexican President Benito Juárez in the War of Reform, and his grandfather was Governor of Sinaloa as well as federal deputy.

Just like his grandfather, he was governor of his state defeating Manuel Clouthier by 40% of the votes. He was Secretary of Energy during the administration of Miguel de la Madrid.

He was also Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of the Interior during the administration of Ernesto Zedillo.

After losing the 2000 presidential election by a small margin he served as president of the Centro de Estudios para el Desarrollo de México. In the general election of July 2, 2006, he was elected to the Senate for the PRI, representing the state of Sinaloa.