FED UP OF TRUMP, MEXICO VOTES LOPEZ OBRADOR TO POWER
Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was elected as Mexico’s first left-wing president in recent times, riding a public revolt against rampant crime, corruption and poverty and handing a crushing defeat to the businessfriendly parties who’ve run the country for decades.
Lopez Obrador’s coalition also looks poised to pick up scores of seats in Congress, with some polls indicating that it may actually take a majority in both legislative chambers.
Final tallies in some of those races could still be days away, creating jitters among investors who worry that such broad power could allow, AMLO, as Lopez Obrador is known, to quickly enact an agenda that includes building new refineries and railways, and auditing energy contracts from outgoing President Enrique Pena Nieto’s term.
While congressional votes are still up for grabs, there was never really any doubt about the outcome of the presidential election. Figures announced by the electoral board gave Lopez Obrador 53.7% of the vote, with half of the ballots computed. Ricardo Anaya, leader of a right-left coalition, had 22.7% and Jose Antonio Meade, the candidate of the incumbent PRI party, took 15.4%.
Lopez Obrador on Monday said he will seek to remain in NAFTA along with the US and Canada and that he respects the existing Mexican team renegotiating the trade pact.
He also said he would pursue a frank dialogue and friendly relations with the US. Lopez Obrador, who will take office in December, said he would discuss NAFTA with President Enrique Pena Nieto in their first meeting.
US President Donald Trump has been openly antagonistic to Mexico over trade and migration since his own presidential campaign. The current NAFTA talks began last year after Trump called for the agreement to be renegotiated.