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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | April 2006 
López Obrador Feeling the Heat from Calderón
 El Universal
| | PAN presidential candidate Felipe Calderón speaks to reporters Saturday at a campaign stop in León, Guanajuato (Guillermo González M./El Universal) |
Andrés Manuel López Obrador was on the defensive Saturday, criticizing his opponents´ warning that he´d be dangerous if elected and dismissing a poll that showed Felipe Calderón taking the lead in the presidential campaign.
While stumping in Veracruz, López Obrador - the frontrunner in the race for Los Pinos for over a year - derided a National Action Party (PAN) ad that said he´d take the country into indebtedness.
"What the PAN is saying in its spots are lies," the former Mexico City mayor said. "The need to twist the truth reflects desperation on their part."
Lópz Obrador pointed out that as mayor he was able to undertake massive infrastructure projects, such as the second level of the city´s Periférico beltway, and offer pension hand-outs to senior citizens without breaking the bank.
"All in all, we won´t be harmed by the deceitful campaign ads and false accusations," said the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) candidate. "Because we have principles and ideals and we are defending a just cause."
Meanwhile, López Obrador and the PRD ridiculed a poll published by GEA-ISA Friday that showed someone other than López Obrador leading for the first time.
The poll (conducted by Grupo de Economistas Asociados-ISA) showed Calderón with 36 percent, López Obrador with 34 percent and Institutional Revolutionary Party candidate Roberto Madrazo with 28 percent.
"It´s a shame GEA-ISA has decided to sacrifice its prestige to serve the interests of the PAN candidate," said Gerardo Fernández Noroña, a PRD spokesman. "As other polls are released in the coming days, this poll will be seen as nothing more than a farce."
Elsewhere, Calderón met with business and industry leaders in León, Guanajuato, where he was asked how he might govern differently than current PAN administrations at the federal and state level. The PAN has governed in Guanajuato for over 10 years.
Responding to charges that the PAN now seems to govern without - or in spite of - civil society, Calderón promised to be open to full public participation.
"But to defend the present administrations here and in Mexico City, keep in mind that Congress has been instrumental in blocking projects supported by the PAN," Calderón said.
"Legislators have not only turned their back on the public, but they´ve made decisions that inhibit investment opportunity."
The PAN candidiate also suggested he would urge the central bank to focus less on controlling inflation and take steps to facilitate investment.
"Inflation is basically under control," he said. "Now it is time to set the stage for improving competitiveness by loosening up a bit on monetary policy." |
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