Mexican statesman Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas was awarded the 2010 Notre Dame Prize for Distinguished Public Service in Latin America at a ceremony in Mexico City on February 16, 2011. An unwavering advocate for democracy and justice, he was instrumental in opening up the political process in Mexico, dominated for almost 60 years by the one-party rule of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
In 1987, Cárdenas challenged the PRI’s unwritten rule that allowed presidents to designate their own successors. Leaving the PRI, he ran for president in 1988 and came very close to winning—indeed, many Mexicans contend that the government stole the election.
The son of one of Mexico’s most revered PRI presidents, Lázaro Cárdenas, Cuauhtémoc rose through the party ranks before becoming fed up with its increasing corruption. In 1989, he founded the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), and in 1997 was elected to the new post of mayor of Mexico City.
Cardenas ran for the presidency again in 1994 and 2000. Currently president of the Fundación para la Democracia (Foundation for Democracy), he has remained active in efforts to confront Mexico’s problems.
With funding from The Coca-Cola Foundation, the Notre Dame Prize for Distinguished Public Service in Latin America recognizes the efforts of visionary leaders to enhance the region’s welfare by strengthening democracy and improving life for its citizens. The award carries a $15,000 cash prize, with a matching amount donated to a charitable organization recommended by the laureate.
Upon the recommendation of Mr. Cárdenas,both his own award and the matching prize was donated to Albergue de Migrantes "Hermanos en el Camino."