A large majority of Mexican voters continued to suspect it of corruption, authoritarianism, and economic incompetence. Peña Nieto’s predecessor, Felipe Calderón, had bequeathed him a war on drugs that had already caused more than 60,000 deaths; at least another 22,000 Mexicans were missing.
培尼亚·涅托面临着严峻的挑战。其所属的革命制度党（PRI）曾领导墨西哥70年，直到在2000年被迫交出了权力。大部份墨西哥选民对该党的腐败、独裁和经济不作为有着持续的怀疑。培尼亚·涅托的前任费利佩·卡尔德龙留下的反毒战争已经造成60,000多人丧生；失踪的至少还有 22,000名墨西哥人。