Mexico’s president-elect vows to reach understanding with Trump after landslide win

MEXICO’S PRESIDENT-ELECT Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said he will contact US preisdent Donald Trump to “reach an understanding”.

Mr Lopez Obrador said in an interview with the Televisa news network that the US president’s tweet on Sunday night “was very respectful. That is what we always want to maintain with the US government, that there be mutual respect”.

Mr Trump wrote: “I look very much forward to working with him. There is much to be done that will benefit both the United States and Mexico!”

“We are never going to disrespect the US government, because we want them to respect us,” Mr Lopez Obrador said.

“At the appropriate moment, we are going to get in touch, to reach an understanding.

“We are conscious of the need to maintain good relations with the United States.”

Mr Lopez Obrador had been compared to Mr Trump for his populist, nationalist rhetoric and sometimes touchy personality – as well as his past scepticism about the trade deal.

But he said he supports reaching a deal on renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement with the US and Canada. The talks have been stalled over the Trump administration demands for higher US content and a “sunset clause” in the 1994 trade agreement.

Mr Lopez Obrador said he will propose that his own team of experts be included in the talks, and he will make that proposal in a meeting on Tuesday with current President Enrique Pena Nieto.

The new leader told Televisa he will respect the current team of negotiators and let them continue representing Mexico until he takes office on December 1.

He said he wants to have information on what is being discussed and “to help as much as we can.”

With just over half of votes counted, he had about 53.7% of the vote, a remarkable margin not seen in the country for more than three decades. A prominent exit poll predicted his party allies were poised to score big victories in congressional and governorship races. Mr Lopez Obrador campaigned on vows to transform Mexico and oust the “mafia of power” ruling the country.