Rumors of infighting swirled around Mexico's ruling party Saturday as it failed to name a successor for its slain presidential candidate. Colosio was murdered by a gunman in Tijuana Wednesday, stunning Mexico and creating a political vacuum in the party that has ruled Mexico since 1929. A decision on a candidate had been predicted by some analysts for this weekend, but the process could take as long as week, other sources said. Some analysts believe the delay is being caused by infighting and that PRI leaders will use the coming Holy Week, when little campaigning would be done anyway, to mull over the issue.
Mexican tradition calls for nine days of mourning.
In Colosio's case that would conclude at the end of next week. Zedillo, who ran Colosio's campaign, is one of the few top-flight PRI leaders who qualify to run because of a law that requires presidential candidates to leave government posts six months before the election. Tensions in the country rose Friday after the southern peasant movmement, the Zapatista National Liberation Army, said it was expecting an attack by government forces and accused hardline anti-Zapatistas of killing Colosio. The Zapatistas launched a brief, but bloody uprising in state January 1 to demand more rights for the area's Indians and rural poor. The PRI has held a firm grip on power for 65 years, with outgoing presidents, who may serve only a single term, essentially naming their successor.