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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | June 2006 
Obrador Vows More Cash for Poor
 Reuters
| | Lopez Obrador introduced a monthly pension of around $70 for the over-70s in Mexico City and vows to extend that program to the rest of the country if he wins the July 2 election. |
Mexico's leftist presidential candidate promised on Tuesday to increase income for the poor in a television ad blitz that fell short of expectations he would make a major economic announcement.
In a prime-time one-minute spot broadcast simultaneously on main television channels, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said his plans for the economy would raise the incomes of Mexican families earning less than 9,000 pesos ($796) by 20 percent.
The former mayor of Mexico City made no new economic proposals but said his plans to slash government costs, cut energy prices and increase welfare programs would mean more money in the pockets of the poor across the board.
Lopez Obrador is tied for first place with conservative Felipe Calderon in opinion polls after losing his role as front-runner last month after negative campaign ads by his rivals.
Political analysts had expected Lopez Obrador to offer tax breaks for the poor and other eye-catching measures to win back the initiative.
Instead, he said policies he had previously announced would create more wealth mostly by making savings that would trickle down to family budgets but gave few details. Lopez Obrador also said social aid programs would also make the poor better off.
"I have worked all my life so that people who earn less than 9,000 pesos can improve their quality of life," he said in the advertisement.
Lopez Obrador introduced a monthly pension of around $70 for the over-70s in Mexico City and vows to extend that program to the rest of the country if he wins the July 2 election.
Numbers flashed up on the screen showing Mexicans on lower incomes what they would have in their pockets under a Lopez Obrador government.
"The economic model that I propose is the most useful for you and for the country," he said. "It causes social peace and prosperity," he said.
Lopez Obrador is promising to end two decades of free market reforms and create jobs with heavy infrastructure spending. |
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