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 News Around the Republic of Mexico | June 2008 
Mexico City's Mayor is Presidential Favorite - For Now
 Deborah Bonello - LATimes
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| | Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard addresses some 100 dignitaries and nearly an equal number of press at the 2007 EV International Forum. As the progressive mayor of the second largest city in the world, his efforts to address its environmental problems include encouraging greater use of bicycles - including his own - improvements in mass transit systems from adding another subway line to increasing the current single MetroBus BRT line to ten, and endorsing a plan to begin converting hundreds of city-owned vehicles to electric drive. | | |
Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard, who has made his mark with popular public programs, such as a free ice-skating rink in the main square, traffic-free Sundays for cyclists and fake beaches, is a favorite for Mexico's upcoming presidential elections in 2012, the Houston Chronicle's Marion Lloyd reports.
Getting ahead of the pack on the elections still four years away, Ebrard offers "a public face that blends populist theater and good government and a behind-the-scenes reputation as part geeky environmentalist and part shrewd political operator."
Looking ahead, it is expected that the leftist mayor could compete for the top job against his fellow PRD party frontman Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in 2012, who though not the holder of an official position remains in the public spotlight on a daily basis and is one of the party's most influential leaders.
Lopez Obrador, the loser in Mexico's controversial 2006 elections that saw current President Felipe Calderon elected, has vowed that the 2012 campaign will be his last - if he doesn't win, he's going to call it a day.
But four years can be a long time, especially in volatile Mexican politics. |
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