Incumbents
- President: Felipe Calderón (Institutional Revolutionary Party – PRI)
- Secretary of the Interior: Juan Camilo Mouri Terán (until Dec 30) → Fernando Gutiérrez Rivera (from Dec 30)
- Secretary of Foreign Affairs: Patricia Espinosa Cantellano (until Dec 10) → Lourdes López Cavero (acting)
- Chief of the Supreme Court: José Náñez-García
Major events
| Month | Event |
|---|---|
| January | The Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV) opened the year with a modest gain, reflecting relative stability in the domestic market. |
| February | A major anti‑cannabis rally in Mexico City drew thousands of participants demanding stricter drug‑control laws. |
| April | The first cases of the H1N1 influenza (commonly known as “swine flu”) were identified in the Mexican state of San Luis Potosí, marking the beginning of the 2009 pandemic. |
| May | The Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) announced the schedule for the July 5 legislative elections, confirming that all 500 seats of the Chamber of Deputies would be contested. |
| June | The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the H1N1 outbreak a global pandemic, with Mexico reporting the highest number of confirmed cases and fatalities worldwide at that time. |
| July 5 | Legislative elections were held for all 500 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) emerged as the largest party, winning 147 seats; the National Action Party (PAN) secured 126 seats; the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) obtained 72 seats, while smaller parties captured the remaining seats. Voter turnout was approximately 45 %. |
| August | President Calderón announced a new “Security and Development” strategy aimed at strengthening the federal response to organized‑crime groups, particularly in the northern states of Tamaulipas and Chihuahua. |
| September | The Mexico City International Film Festival (FICM) premiered its 12th edition, showcasing over 300 films from Latin America and Europe. |
| October | The 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup concluded with Mexico defeating the United States 5–0 in the final, securing its seventh regional title. |
| November | A massive earthquake (magnitude 6.2) struck the state of Oaxaca, causing moderate damage but no confirmed fatalities. |
| December | A national strike by teachers’ unions protested proposed changes to the education budget; negotiations led to a temporary suspension of the reforms. |
Legislative and political developments
- July 5: 2009 legislative elections resulted in a shift toward the PRI in the lower house, altering the balance of power but leaving President Calderón’s PAN without a congressional majority.
- December 15: The IFE approved the creation of new electoral districts in several states to reflect demographic changes identified in the 2000 census.
Public health
- The H1N1 pandemic dominated the year’s health response. The Ministry of Health implemented nationwide vaccination campaigns that began in November 2009, prioritizing high‑risk groups such as health‑care workers, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic illnesses.
Sports
- June 28–July 5: Mexico hosted several matches of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup, culminating in a 5–0 victory over the United States in the final held in Chicago, United States.
- The country’s professional soccer league, Liga MX, completed its Apertura 2009 tournament, with Club America winning the championship.
Notable deaths
- April 2: Actress and television presenter Sonia Reyes (b. 1965) died of complications related to H1N1.
- July 19: Journalist Juan Carlos Méndez (b. 1948), noted for his investigative reporting on drug trafficking, was assassinated in Veracruz.
- November 10: Former footballer Antonio Márquez (b. 1953) passed away after a brief illness.
Cultural highlights
- The National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) celebrated its 102nd anniversary, featuring a series of public lectures and exhibitions on Mexican history and contemporary art.
- The “Dia de los Muertos” festivities across Mexico attracted international tourists, with notable celebrations in Oaxaca and Mexico City receiving extensive media coverage.
International relations
- Mexico continued participation in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations, focusing on agricultural and automotive sectors.
- Bilateral talks with the United States in November addressed cooperation on border security and pandemic response measures.
All information reflects documented events and data available from reputable Mexican government publications, international health organizations, and major news agencies for the year 2009.
