When Felipe Calderón, Mexico's president, sits down this Christmas to eat stuffed turkey and "romeritos", a typical festive dish made with herbs, dried prawns, potatoes and chilli, the chances are that he will feel a certain degree of accomplishment after his first year in office.
Within the space of nine months, he has managed to contain the threat from Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the left-wing candidate in last year's closely-fought and controversial election.
