Mexican Voters Revolt: Leftist Elected to Fight Corruption, Poverty, Violence

Jennifer Wishon : Jul 2, 2018
CBN News

Obrador says he'll seek a relationship of "friendship and respect" with the US.

(Mexico)—[CBN News] Mexicans, fed up with violence, poverty and government corruption, elected leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as president. (Photo: Newly elected Mexican President Manuel Obrador/AP/via CBN News)

Exit polls estimate Obrador received a broad mandate, winning at least 53 percent of the vote, more than double than that of his rivals.

"Today, one stage has ended and we are going to begin another one—we are going to transform Mexico," Obrador told raucous supporters during a midnight rally.

His supporters poured into the streets waving Mexican flags and honking horns to the tune of "Viva Mexico."

Obrador says he'll seek a relationship of "friendship and respect" with the US.

President Donald Trump congratulated him, tweeting, "I look very much forward to working with him. There is much to be done that will benefit both the United States and Mexico."

Obrador will replace President Enrique Pena Nieto, who congratulated his successor.

For the president in waiting, his third election was a charm after losing the previous two contests, and he's promised major changes.

"I confess that I have a legitimate ambition: I want to go down in history as a good president of Mexico. I desire with all my soul to raise the greatness of our country on high," he said.

Obrador vows to fight violence by addressing what he views as the root of it—poverty and inequality.

He also promises to combat the "mafia of power" by rooting out government corruption. Contracts obtained under energy reforms passed under President Nieto will be scrutinized for wrongdoing, he says.

"The people are fed up. That is what brought us to this," said Susana Zuniga, a retired teacher.

However, some Mexicans are skeptical. They worry his promises can't be financed.

"I am concerned that some candidates are making proposals that are impossible because they're very expensive to carry out," said 26-year-old Juan Carlos Limas, who supported one of Obrador's opponents.

In the end, though, it was anger among young, average Mexicans who are no longer willing to accept the status quo that carried Obrador to victory.

"He's been able to capture the mantle of the person who's on the outside who wants change," explained Shannon O'Neil, senior fellow for Latin American studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.