Andrés Manuel López Obrador leads massive march in Mexico and reiterates he will not seek re-election

Two weeks later the Mexican opposition marched to protest against an electoral reform promoted by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the president responded with his own mobilization in which he listed the successes of his management and reiterated that he will not run for re-election, which has been prohibited since the triumph of the Mexican Revolution.

The march mobilized hundreds of thousands of people in Mexico City, the president’s main stronghold. According to the head of government, there were 1.2 million peoplethat crowded the capital’s Zócalo and other streets in the historic centre.

López Obrador walked for more than five hours among hundreds of thousands of people who came this Sunday to hear his report after spending four years in government. After starting his speech by announcing that he would not be running again, he thanked his followers for their presence. “Love pays with love”were his words.

Barely showing any signs of tiredness despite a long walk from the emblematic Angel of Independence to the Zócalo, where the National Palace is located, López Obrador took the stage at 3pm – even though he was supposed to start at 11am – -Y listed, for more than an hour and a halfthe results of his government, which began on 1 December 2018.

“I am very happy to be with you”, began the president, who without even taking a few minutes to drink water after having taken a mass bath, began his speech by emphasizing the presence of young people in the crowded day and reminding those who already I am not here.

“It caught my attention and made me very happy that most of those who participated in the march are young peoplethere’s a generational change,” he explained with a broad smile.

He also wanted to dedicate the day to “those who were pioneers”. “They will always continue to be with us. They close their eyes but stay awake, and they must be very happy, we dedicate this act to them,” she said.

110 actions and achievements “from below”

López Obrador listed 110 “actions and results” of his government and said so all were performed with the people, “from below”, given that since he arrived in government, he assured, no one is excluded. “Poor first,” he repeated over and over.

He also said there were still many things to do, some of which he assured will be accomplished before his term ends in 2024 and others when he leaves and continues the project of his party, the National Regeneration Movement. “No to re-election!”he exclaimed.

He then cited topics such as scholarships and other direct financial aid which, he said, reaches 85% of families in Mexico, care and respect for indigenous peoples, or a 62% increase in the minimum wage.

He also highlighted the flagship works carried out during his government such as the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA) –already finished and in operation even if with few daily flights– or the Maya Train whose construction, he assured, will be completed sooner of the end of his mandate.

Likewise, he used a considerable portion of his speech to emphasize that the arrival of the fourth transformation, as his project is called, guaranteed an end to corruption. “The hell with all this,” she said.

And he criticized conservatism saying that “the true doctrine of conservatism is hypocrisy“.

“Let’s continue to make history, let’s continue to promote the revolution of consciences, let’s make Mexican humanism a reality and glory, long live Mexico!” concluded the president amid shouts of joy and phrases such as “it is an honor to be with Obrador”, a slogan that he has been repeating since the election campaign before he came to power.

the day it went relatively smoothly and without setbacks despite the concern that existed for the safety of the president and the large attendance recorded.

The procession and the claims of the opposition

On November 16, López Obrador announced that he would give his report on his fourth year of government on November 27, rather than December 1, four years after he took office, in the Zócalo, after a march he would lead himself.

The announcement of the march came just three days later mobilization that brought together thousands of peoplemostly opponents, who took to the streets in Mexico City and other entities in the country in defense of the National Electoral Institute (INE) and against the controversial electoral reform promoted by President López Obrador.

The reform, which the president presented last April and which will be discussed shortly in Congress, is controversial because would submit the directors of INE to a popular vote and to the magistrates of the Federal Judicial Electoral Tribunal (Tepjf).

Also it would eliminate 200 deputies and 32 senatorsit would reduce the funding of political parties and redefine the concept of “propaganda” so that the government can speak out during elections, provisions criticized because they could favor the current party in power.

The left denounces that the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE), now INE, has turned a blind eye to electoral fraud in the midterm and presidential elections of the past four decades. López Obrador supports it his triumph for the governorship went unrecognized Tabasco and twice in the presidential elections, despite the evidence of fraud presented.

For their part, the INE and the opposition accuse an attempt by López Obrador and the National Regeneration party (Morena) to destroy the INE or at least reduce it, with the pretext of the burden of its maintenance and the privileges of its leadership.

Source: EFE and RFI