Less than 24 hours after Mexico's historic election result, the winning candidate, Mr Vicente Fox, visited the presidential palace at Los Pinos, where President Ernesto Zedillo pledged "full co-operation" in the coming months.
"Mr President," said Mr Fox, entering Mr Zedillo's office, "it's a proud pleasure for me to be here with you," dissipating years of antagonism between Mexico's two main political forces.
Final election results from last Sunday's presidential poll gave the triumphant Mr Fox 43 per cent of votes, ahead of the candidate of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) candidate, Mr Francisco Labastida, who polled 36 per cent.
In addition, Mr Fox's National Action Party (PAN) won a clear majority of seats in both Congress and Senate, giving them a deciding voice in the new parliament, which takes office in September.
President Zedillo instructed his cabinet members to give Mr Fox a blow-by-blow account of all current ministerial projects, while the two leaders will draw up a joint budget for the year 2001 and facilitate resources for Mr Fox's National Development Plan, which will swing into action on his first day in office "so as not to waste a single moment in advancing economic, political and social progress".
Mr Fox, who assumes office in December, has promised to appoint a cabinet of experts "drawn from all parties and all ideologies", ruling out "bitterness and revenge" in his government.
As a symbol of his conciliatory spirit, Mr Fox withdrew a formal complaint for defamation of character, lodged with the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) against his defeated election rival, Mr Labastida.
The new cabinet will be up and running by September, working alongside Mr Zedillo's administration to insure a smooth handover of power. Mr Fox announced that he would leave the civil service untouched, a generous move in a country where the state bureaucracy has traditionally displayed unconditional support for the ruling party.
Mr Fox also hinted that two cabinet posts will be occupied by members of Mr Zedillo's current cabinet. "It's a big mistake to fill up government posts with pals," said Mr Fox. "There will be none of that in my time."
Congratulations continued to pour into Mr Fox's office yesterday, as world leaders welcomed the change in government, offering broad praise for Mr Zedillo's speedy recognition of the result.
"The exemplary performance by Zedillo will undoubtedly strengthen democracy and the rule of law in Latin America,", said the EU's Secretary-General and High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Mr Javier Solana.
One paradox of the surprise PRI defeat is that Mr Zedillo has received strong praise around the world for his commitment to democratic rule yet his own party hold him largely responsible for the defeat.
"The PRI is offended," said Mr Efren Leyva, the party's leader in Chiapas state. "No one asked him to acknowledge the defeat." Mr Zedillo recognised the election result with only a fraction of the votes counted, an act considered "treacherous" by some of the party faithful.
The ruling PRI, ousted after 71 years in power, held meetings all day yesterday, in a heated post-mortem debate over the election results and what should be the course of action to follow in the coming months. "We are trying to avoid divisions," said one member of the party executive. "But we're two steps away from a punch-up."
The party is divided over whether to pursue a "civilised" line of action when in opposition, or "go in hard" and sabotage the incoming administration.
The PRI's current leaders formally presented their resignation yesterday morning in recognition of the disastrous result. The next party leader will be chosen in line with the style of opposition to be adopted, with a party hardliner, Mr Roberto Madrazo, Governor of Tabasco state, a favourite for the post.
The centre-left Party of the Democratic Revolution yesterday refused an invitation to join the government Mr Fox will form.