Tired of corruption, Mexico votes Left
Angry and frustrated over corruption and violence, Mexican voters delivered a tidal wave presidential election victory to Leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, giving him a broad mandate to upend the political establishment and govern for the poor.
An official quick count from electoral authorities late Sunday forecast that Lopez Obrador would win with between 53-53.8% of the votes, a remarkable margin not seen in the country for more than three decades. Early on Monday, with about 40% of the votes counted, Lopez Obrador’s advantage was close to the quick count’s statistical sample.
A prominent exit poll predicted his party allies were poised to score big victories in congressional races, possibly winning absolute majorities in the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
Lopez Obrador, who campaigned on vows to transform Mexico and oust the “mafia of power” ruling the country, rode widespread voter anger and discontent with the governing Institutional Revolution Party, or PRI, of President Enrique Pena Nieto
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and had led opinion polls since the beginning of the campaign.
The PRI, which dominated Mexican politics for nearly the entire 20th century and recaptured the presidency in 2012, was set to suffer heavy losses in other races as well.
In remarks at a hotel in Mexico City, Lopez Obrador called for reconciliation after a polarising campaign. “I confess that I have a legitimate ambition: I want to go down in history as a good president of Mexico,” he said.
Conservative Ricardo Anaya of a right-left coalition and the PRI’s Jose Antonio Meade acknowledged defeat shortly after polls closed nationwide. The quick count had them around 22% and 16%, respectively.