Patricia Mercado
Encyclopedia
Dora Patricia Mercado Castro (b. 1957 in Ciudad Obregón
, Sonora
) is a
Mexican
feminist
politician. She is a founder, former president and the 2006 presidential candidate of the extinct Socialdemocratic Party (in Spanish
: Partido Socialdemócrata).
Mercado Castro received a bachelor's degree in economics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico
(UNAM). In 1992 she received a scholarship from the MacArthur Foundation
and three years later she represented Mexico in the World Conference on Women in Beijing
, China
.
Although in 1991 she was a candidate of the Labor Party
to the Chamber of Deputies
, she is better known for competing in the primary election for the Social Democracy
(in Spanish
: Democracia Social) nomination in the 2000 presidential elections
against party leader Gilberto Rincón Gallardo
and heading México Posible
, a defunct political party that failed to secure its registry in the 2003 federal election
. While in campaign, she actively promoted abortion
rights, gay marriage, the legalization of marijuana and unsuccessfully took several Catholic
bishop
s to court for distributing political pamphlets against her party.
She was the presidential candidate for Alternativa during the 2006 elections
, obtaining 2.7% of the popular vote, which was enough to secure the party's national registration. Her campaign was considered particularly successful, considering she ran without any private or public funding. The first presidential debate during the campaign is considered her most important breakthrough.
Ciudad Obregón
Ciudad Obregon is the second largest city in the northern Mexican state of Sonora and is situated south of the state's northern border with the U.S. state of Arizona. It is also the municipal seat of Cajeme municipality, located in the Yaqui Valley.- History :...
, Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
) is a
Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
feminist
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
politician. She is a founder, former president and the 2006 presidential candidate of the extinct Socialdemocratic Party (in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: Partido Socialdemócrata).
Mercado Castro received a bachelor's degree in economics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
(UNAM). In 1992 she received a scholarship from the MacArthur Foundation
MacArthur Foundation
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States. Based in Chicago but supporting non-profit organizations that work in 60 countries, MacArthur has awarded more than US$4 billion since its inception in 1978...
and three years later she represented Mexico in the World Conference on Women in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
Although in 1991 she was a candidate of the Labor Party
Labor Party (Mexico)
The Labor Party is a nationally recognized political party in Mexico. It was founded on December 8, 1990. The party is currently led by Alberto Anaya....
to the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies of Mexico
The Chamber of Deputies is the lower house of the Congress of the Union, Mexico's bicameral legislature. The structure and responsibilities of both chambers of Congress are defined in Articles 50 to 70 of the current constitution.-Composition:The Chamber of Deputies is composed of one federal...
, she is better known for competing in the primary election for the Social Democracy
Social Democracy (Mexico)
Social Democracy was a Mexican political party formed in June 1999 and disbanded after the 2000 federal elections....
(in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: Democracia Social) nomination in the 2000 presidential elections
Mexican general election, 2000
General elections were held in Mexico on 6 July 2000. The presidential elections were won by Vicente Fox of the Alliance for Change, who received 43.4% of the vote, the first time the opposition had won an election since the Mexican Revolution...
against party leader Gilberto Rincón Gallardo
Gilberto Rincón Gallardo
Gilberto Rincón Gallardo y Meltis was a Mexican politician, activist and former presidential candidate.-Biography:...
and heading México Posible
México Posible
México Posible was a Mexican political party of brief existence which took part in the midterm Mexican legislative election, 2003. The party was led by Patricia Mercado...
, a defunct political party that failed to secure its registry in the 2003 federal election
2003 Mexican elections
A number of elections, both federal and local, took place in Mexico during 2003:-Federal Congress:**Chamber of Deputies – 500 federal deputies-Colima:**Governor, state congress, and mayors**See: 2003 Colima state election-Nuevo León:...
. While in campaign, she actively promoted abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
rights, gay marriage, the legalization of marijuana and unsuccessfully took several Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s to court for distributing political pamphlets against her party.
She was the presidential candidate for Alternativa during the 2006 elections
Mexican general election, 2006
A general election was held in Mexico on Sunday, July 2, 2006. Voters went to the polls to elect, on the federal level:*A new President of the Republic to serve a six-year term, replacing then Mexican President Vicente Fox .*500 members to serve for a...
, obtaining 2.7% of the popular vote, which was enough to secure the party's national registration. Her campaign was considered particularly successful, considering she ran without any private or public funding. The first presidential debate during the campaign is considered her most important breakthrough.