US relations dominate presidential debate
MEXICO CITY: Mexico’s turbulent relationship with the US government under President Donald Trump dominated the country’s second presidential debate on Sunday.
The debate in the border city of Tijuana focused on issues of foreign policy, immigration and border security. The relationship with the US came up repeatedly in questions from the moderators and from Tijuana citizens in the audience. All of the candidates insisted the relationship must be based on mutual respect.
They were asked about reintegeration of Mexicans taken to the US as children by their parents who years later were deported and about whether Mexico should seal its southern border at the behest of the US to block Central Americans from migrating north.
Polls indicate leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has a comfortable lead over the remaining three candidates. Many have questioned about how confrontational he would be as president with Mr Trump, but his answers about the USMexico relationship on Sunday were often the most moderate.
“I want a relationship of friendship, but not of subordination,’’ Mr Lopez Obrador said.
Jose Antonio Meade, former foreign minister and candidate for the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, defended President Enrique Pena Nieto’s decision to invite Mr Trump to Mexico during the US presidential campaign in 2016.
Mr Trump and Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton were both invited, but only Mr Trump accepted. Mr Meade also said that he never thought Mr Trump was going to win.
Ricardo Anaya, the candidate of a rightleft coalition, called that episode a “humiliation’’ for Mexico and held up a large photograph of Pena Nieto and Mr Trump shaking hands. He said Mexico should be more assertive with the US.
“In security they need us a lot,’’ Mr Anaya said.
Independent candidate Jaime “El Bronco’’ Rodriguez said Mexico needs to wean itself from the US “and put them in their place’’.
Another independent, Margarita Zavala, dropped out of the race earlier after struggling to gain traction. She is a former lawmaker and is married to former president Felipe Calderon.
The candidates agreed that Mexico should be welcoming to migrants fleeing violence and poverty in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.
Mr Lopez Obrador said Mexico should not do the United States’ “dirty work’’ by blocking migrants from those countries. Recently, a caravan of Central American migrants drew the ire of Mr Trump during its slow trip across Mexico.
Mr Meade had a more balanced answer suggesting that Mexico had to distinguish between refugees and migrants tied to organised crime.
Mr Anaya, who polls have placed in second position, spent much of the evening attacking front runner Mr Lopez Obrador and walking across the stage to stand in front of him as he did.
Mr Lopez Obrador called Mr Anaya names and Mr Anaya repeatedly framed Mr Lopez Obrador, the race’s oldest candidate, as out of touch.
One area of agreement between all candidates and was a dire need to raise Mexican wages.
Tijuana resident Diego Dominguez Sanchez told the candidates he had lived in the US for 13 years and returned to Mexico three years ago. Now, he was working many more hours for less than half the salary than what he earned in the US.
Mr Lopez Obrador said he agreed with Mr Trump that Mexican wages must rise. Mr Anaya said he would increase the country’s minimum wage.
The national election is scheduled to be held on July 1.