 |
|
|
 News Around the Republic of Mexico | July 2006 
More than One Million Rally Against 'Election Fraud'
 Alexandre Peyrille - AFP
| | Supporters of Mexican presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of the Democratic Revolutionary Party (PRD) rally at Mexico City's Zocalo. More than one million supporters of Obrador rallied to denounce alleged election fraud they blamed for his defeat in the July 2 presidential elections. (AFP/Susana Gonzales) |
More than one million supporters of leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador rallied to denounce alleged election fraud they blamed for his defeat in the July 2 presidential elections.
Government officials said some 1.2 million Lopez Obrador backers filled the capital's streets chanting "no to fraud" and calling for a vote-by-vote recount of the 41.7 million ballots cast in the election.
Lopez Obrador also asked his supporters to set up 47 camping sites across the gridlocked city's main thoroughfares that would entertain residents with art and performances while peacefully lobbying for the losing candidate's cause.
"I told them I myself will be living in one of those sites while we are holding these meetings," the popular former Mexico City mayor said.
"I know that what I propose is not easy, but it is essential for our cause."
Conservative Felipe Calderon bested Lopez Obrador in the polls by a bare 0.58 percentage point margin, and Lopez Obrador has formally filed complaints with the elections court citing evidence of cheating.
On July 18 his Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) sent an 836-page document to the court claiming that the vote was invalid. They have also supplied videos and other alleged evidence of cheating to back their claim.
The elections court, which has the power to call a partial or a full vote recount, must declare the official victor in the poll by September 6. The winner will assume the presidency on December 1.
Lopez Obrador maintains that if the commission does not order a full recount it will be covering up a "general election fraud" to Calderon's benefit.
"I am the president of Mexico ... In a recount I will win the election. Despite all the government fraud, we won on July 2," he said on the Univision television channel.
For their part, Calderon's supporters in the National Action Party branded Lopez Obrador's statements as "schizophrenic," and insisted that Calderon has not deceived Mexico's people.
"It is not possible, it is not necessary to deceive people about anything using claims and suspicions. Personal beliefs must be put aside for a course through institutional channels established by law," Calderon said.
The coalition "For the Good of All" has challenged Calderon to support a vote recount, to avoid suspicions of fraud overhanging the election forever.
Lopez Obrador also challenged Calderon to back a recount.
"If it is like this, you will be a spurious president, and our country does not deserve to be governed by someone without moral nor political authority," he said in a letter sent to Calderon.
Calderon replied in a letter that "the decision to recount the votes does not belong to the candidates or the parties."
The rally Sunday was the largest for Lopez Obrador since the election. On July 16, he drew 800,000 people out to protest in his support across the country, and has since called for a campaign of "peaceful resistance". |
| |
|
Vallarta Weddings
Tell a Friend
Site Map
Print this Page
Email Us