Mexico’s Lopez Obrador claims historic win, broad mandate
A late-night official quick count from electoral authorities forecast that
The PRI, which dominated Mexican politics for nearly the entire 20th century and recaptured the presidency in 2012, was set to suffer heavy losses not just for the presidency but in down-ballot races as well.
In brief remarks at a hotel in central
"I confess that I have a legitimate ambition: I want to go down in history as a good president of Mexico," said
The president-in-waiting devoted much of his speech to appealing to citizens of all stripes and seeking to reassure those who have eyed his candidacy nervously.
"This new national project will seek to establish an authentic democracy and we do not intend to establish a dictatorship,"
Conservative
"The tendency favors
"For the good of Mexico, I wish him the greatest success," Meade said minutes earlier.
Supporters began wild celebrations in
Thousands poured into the sprawling main square known as the Zocalo, where the 64-year-old former mayor had called on his backers to rally Sunday night. Many danced to the trills of mariachi music.
Retired teacher
"The people are fed up," Zuniga said. "That is what brought us to this."
He said contracts obtained under energy reforms passed under President
"There will be no confiscation or expropriation of assets. ... Eradicating corruption will be the principal mission," he said.
"Peace and tranquility are the fruits of justice,"
Exit polling by Consulta Mitofsky for the Televisa network forecast gubernatorial wins for allies of
Mitofsky predicted Morena allies would take between 56 and 70 seats in the 100-member senate and between 256 and 291 spots in the 500-seat lower house.
In 2006, rivals convinced voters that his populist message was "a danger for Mexico." In 2012, voters restored the long-dominant PRI to power in hopes that it could cut back-room deals to tamp down rising violence.
But after six years under
So deep is Mexicans' discontent with the status quo that not only
In the end,
"The anger that the average Mexican feels toward the way things are being governed has favored
After 12 years of near-permanent campaigning,
He also pledged to increase support payments for the elderly and to give scholarships or paid apprenticeships to young people.
"Now that he has won, he cannot fail this new generation that believes in him," said
"I am concerned that some candidates are making proposals that are impossible, because they're very expensive to carry out," said
Sunday's elections for posts at every level of government were Mexico's largest ever and became a referendum on corruption, graft and other tricks used to divert taxpayer money to officials' pockets.
Much ire was aimed at the PRI, whose market-oriented economic reforms have yet to benefit many in a country where about half the population is poor. Meade struggled during the campaign to escape discontent with the party, even though he was never a member until it tapped him as an "outsider" candidate.
Anaya tried to harness the youth vote with an emphasis on technology and new ideas, but he divided his own conservative party to take its candidacy and there were doubts his new allies in the leftist
Sunday was the first time that an independent candidate appeared on the ballot.
It was also the first time Mexicans living abroad were able to vote for down-ballot races like senators. More than 181,000 received ballots and the 97,000 that the
Sunday's vote was largely peaceful and electoral authorities reported only isolated incidents.
SC Rep. Katie Arrington posts first comments, photo from hospital since fatal car crash
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News