Graft allegations in final Mexico debate
The three trailing candidates take turns attacking front-runner Obrador and also lash out at each other
Mexico’s presidential candidates traded accusations of corruption on Tuesday in a hardfought final debate ahead of the July 1 election.
The three trailing candidates took turns attacking the leftist front-runner, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, and also lashed out at each other.
“Andres Manuel, you’ve become what you so often criticised,” second-place candidate Ricardo Anaya of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) told Lopez Obrador.
He accused the two-time presidential runner-up, who has campaigned as ardently anti-graft, of abandoning his principles to hand sweetheart government contracts to cronies when he was Mexico City mayor, from 2000 to 2005.
“I’m not corrupt like you,” retorted Lopez Obrador, who has around half the vote heading into the single-round race, according to the latest opinion polls.
“If I show you the contracts, will you withdraw your candidacy?” Anaya fired back, repeating the question three times.
Anaya, a former speaker of Congress, also attacked his nearest rival, third-place candidate Jose Antonio Meade of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
“When I’m president, I’m going to see to it you have your day in court. You, Jose Antonio Meade, and your boss, [outgoing President] Enrique Pena Nieto,” he said.
“The only one here accused of any crime is Ricardo,” replied ex-finance minister Meade, referring to moneylaundering allegations that have dogged Anaya, and which the latter says were fabricated by the government.
Lopez Obrador — widely known by his initials, AMLO — largely remained above the fray, as in the first two debates.
“It’s not my fault you’re all in a tie for the bottom,” he said in response to his rivals’ attacks. “I know you’re desperate, but calm down.”
When I’m president, I’m going to see to it you have your day in court. You, Jose Antonio Meade, and your boss, [outgoing President] Enrique Pena Nieto,”
Ricardo Anaya | Candidate
Mexican FBI
Independent candidate Jaime “El Bronco” Rodriguez meanwhile caused internet titters with a pledge to create a Mexican FBI — the “Facebook Bronco Investigation,” in which citizen whistleblowers would report crimes via social media.
During the first debate, Rodriguez vowed to amputate thieves’ hands to deal with rampant crime.