Ex-Mexican President De la Madrid dies at age 77
Former President Miguel de la Madrid, who led Mexico from 1982 to 1988 during an economic crisis and a devastating earthquake, died Sunday at age 77, AP reported.
De la Madrid was the first in a string of presidents who pulled Mexico away from a state-dominated economy and toward free trade by bringing the country into the precursor to the World Trade Organization and by privatizing hundreds of government businesses.
The Harvard-educated de la Madrid, who was Mexico's president from 1982 until 1988, was criticized for his slow response to the devastating 8.1-magnitude earthquake that rocked Mexico City in September 1985 killing 10,000 people. He died at Hospital Espanol in the capital where he had been admitted for treatment of emphysema in January, The New York Times reported.
De La Madrid is survived by his wife, four sons, a daughter and several grandchildren.