Carlos Salinas de Gortari served as President of Mexico from 1988-1994. He is best remembered for his sweeping economic reforms and his negotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). His presidency is also remembered for several controversial and politically divisive issues, such as the 1988 presidential election, in which he was accused of electoral fraud and voter intimidation.

Salinas continued with the neoliberal economic policy of his predecessor Miguel de la Madrid and converted Mexico into a regulatory state. During his presidential term, he aggressively privatized hundreds of state-run companies, including telecommunications, steel, and mining. The banking system (that had been nationalized by José López Portillo) was privatized.These reforms resulted in a period of economic growth and increased foreign investment in Mexico during the early 1990s.

Salinas' government also implemented a series of social reforms, including the National Solidarity Program (PRONASOL), a social welfare program, as a way to directly aid poor Mexicans, but also create a network of support for Salinas. Domestically, Salinas faced several major challenges during his presidency. These included the Zapatista uprising in Chiapas in 1994 and the assassination of his predecessor, Luis Donaldo Colosio.

Salinas' presidency was marked by both great successes and great controversy. His economic reforms helped to modernize and open up the Mexican economy, while his social reforms helped to reduce poverty and improve living standards. However, his government was also plagued by allegations of electoral fraud and voter intimidation, and he faced several major domestic challenges during his presidency.