Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Trump speaks to Mexico’s next president
MEXICO CITY — The morning after his crushing election victory, Mexico’s President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador thanked President Donald Trump for his congratulatory message and said he would contact the U.S. leader to “reach an understanding.”
Later in the day, Trump said he “had a lot of good conversation” with the leftist leader for about 30 minutes. Lopez Obrador tweeted that Trump had called him.
Trump said, “I think the relationship will be a very good one.”
Lopez Obrador said in an interview Monday with the Televisa news network that Trump’s tweet Sunday night “was very respectful. That is what we always want to maintain with the U.S. government, that there be mutual respect.”
Trump tweeted Sunday that “I look very much forward to working with him. There is much to be done that will benefit both the United States and Mexico!”
Speaking on Monday during a meeting with Dutch
Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Trump said he and Lopez Obrador discussed border security and trade.
He said:
“We talked about trade, we talked about [the North American Free Trade Agreement], we talked about a separate deal, just Mexico and the United States.”
“We are never going to disrespect the U.S. government, because we want them to respect us,” Lopez Obrador said during his interview. “At the appropriate moment, we are going to get in touch, to reach an understanding” with the Trump administration.
“We are conscious of the need to maintain good relations with the United States,” he added. Lopez Obrador had been compared to Trump for his populist, nationalist rhetoric and sometimes touchy personality — as well as his past skepticism about the trade deal.
But Lopez Obrador said he supports reaching a deal on renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Canada. The talks have been stalled over the Trump administration demands for higher U.S. content and a “sunset clause” in the 1994 trade agreement.
Lopez Obrador said he will propose that his own team of experts be included in the talks. The winning candidate said he will make that proposal in a meeting today with current President Enrique Pena Nieto.
Lopez Obrador told Televisa that he will respect the current team of negotiators, and let them continue representing Mexico until he takes office Dec. 1.
Lopez Obrador said he wants to have information on what’s being discussed and “to help as much as we can.”
With just over half of votes counted on Monday, Lopez Obrador had about 53.7 percent of the votes, a margin not seen in the country for more than three decades.
His party allies were also poised to score big victories in congressional and governorship races.
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 of Pena Nieto and had led opinion polls since the beginning of the campaign.
The Institutional Revolution Party, which dominated Mexican politics for nearly the entire 20th century and recaptured the presidency in 2012, was set to suffer heavy losses, not just for the presidency but in other races as well.
In brief remarks at a hotel in central Mexico City late Sunday, Lopez Obrador called for reconciliation after a polarizing campaign and promised profound change but with respect for the law and constitutional order.
“I confess that I have a legitimate ambition: I want to go down in history as a good president of Mexico,” said Lopez Obrador, who had lost in the previous two presidential elections. “I desire with all my soul to raise the greatness of our country on high.”
Lopez Obrador said he would “seek to establish an authentic democracy and we do not intend to establish a dictatorship.” He said, “The changes will be profound, but in accordance with established order.”
Lopez Obrador said individual and property rights would be guaranteed, promised respect for the autonomy of the central Bank of Mexico and said his government will maintain financial and fiscal discipline.
He said contracts obtained under energy overhauls passed under Pena Nieto will be scrutinized for any corruption or illegality, but otherwise contracts will be honored.
“There will be no confiscation or expropriation of assets. … Eradicating corruption will be the principal mission,” he said.
Lopez Obrador also spoke of reducing Mexican immigration to the United States through economic development.
And rather than the use of force to fight spiraling violence, he said, he will look to fix root causes such as inequality and poverty.