Mexicans protest new leader
MEXICO CITY — Felipe Calderon was declared president-elect Tuesday after two months of uncertainty, but his ability to rule remained in doubt, with Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador saying he’ll lead a parallel leftist government from the streets.
The unanimous decision by the Federal Electoral Tribunal rejected allegations of systematic fraud and awarded Calderon the presidency by 233,831 votes out of 41.6 million cast in the July 2 elections — a margin of 0.56%. The ruling can’t be appealed.
Calderon now must win over millions of Mexicans angry that President Vicente Fox didn’t make good on promises of sweeping change — and fend off thousands of people who say they’ll stop at nothing to undermine his presidency.
Lopez Obrador has said he won’t recognize the new government and pledges to block Calderon from taking power Dec. 1. Protesters outside the tribunal wept as the decision was announced and set off firecrackers that shook the building.
“We aren’t going to let him govern!” Thomas Jimenez, a 30-year-old law student, screamed as hundreds of protesters threw eggs and trash at the courthouse.
The decision by the seven judges — who have split their votes in disputes about other elections — also found that Fox endangered the election by making statements that favored Calderon, and that business leaders broke the law by paying for ads against Lopez Obrador, who promised to govern on behalf of poor people.
But the problems weren’t serious enough to annul the results, they said. “There are no perfect elections,” Judge Alfonsina Berta Navarro Hidalgo said.
The court’s president, Leonel Castillo, urged Mexicans to unite. “I hope we conclude this electoral process leaving confrontation behind,” he said.
Revolution ‘only way’ to change
But the decision was unlikely to end the demonstrations that have crippled Mexico City’s center or heal the nation’s political divide.
Lopez Obrador’s campaign pledge — “the poor come first” — resonated in southern states, where he won about half of the vote, compared with a national average of 35%. About half of Mexico’s 103 million people can’t afford food, clothing or housing, according to a government study.
In the Zocalo plaza, thousands of people in a month-old protest camp chanted: “If there is no solution, there will be revolution!”
“Taking up arms is the only way,” said Angel Sinsun, 80. “They’ll never give us power with peaceful resistance or with negotiations.”
Lopez Obrador has urged his followers to remain peaceful.
His movement has become increasingly radicalized since the election, and polls indicate he lost support after lawmakers from his party blocked Fox’s last State of the Nation address Friday.
Lopez Obrador adviser Manuel Camacho said the court’s recommendation “does not take into account what is actually happening in the country.”
“The court is going to be questioned seriously about its decision,” he said, adding: “We have the responsibility to conduct ourselves peacefully.”
For others, decision is perfect
No violence was reported, but police surrounded the headquarters of Calderon’s National Action Party, where businesswoman Susanna Rivera was among a few drivers honking in support of the conservative former energy secretary.
“It’s marvelous. It’s perfect,” she said of the court’s decision. “We are happy because he is a decent, educated person.” She said Lopez Obrador’s supporters would never accept Calderon because “they are a bunch of crazies.”
Neither candidate attended the court session. Lopez Obrador ate breakfast with lawmakers, then went to his protest tent in the Zocalo plaza, where he’s been sleeping for nearly two months.
Supporters greeted him with calls of “You are not alone!”