- Title: Mexicans wary ahead of US elections
- Date: 7th November 2016
- Summary: CIUDAD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EARTHMOVER TAKING DOWN OLD BORDER FENCE VARIOUS OF EARTHMOVER PUTTING UP NEW BORDER FENCE
- Embargoed: 22nd November 2016 23:01
- Keywords: election Mexico U.S. Hillary Clinton Donald Trump senators
- Location: MEXICO CITY AND CIUDAD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO
- City: MEXICO CITY AND CIUDAD JUAREZ, CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA00657G5XDZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Mexicans expressed concern of a possible Donald Trump presidency on the eve of US elections, following the candidate's vows to deport undocumented migrants and build a border wall at Mexico's expense.
Armando Rios Piter, an opposition senator for the centre-left Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), has been an ardent Trump critic. In September, he presented to the Mexican Senate an initiative he hopes will protect Mexicans, and highlight the risks of targeting them economically.
"Without a doubt this has generated concern, as seen in the markets and the value of our currency when the probability of Trump winning (is higher). We need to be attentive and understand that when the end this election comes that a new narrative needs to be developed regarding the relationship we have with the United States. It is not possible that there is a candidate who has such popularity and his comments are based on hate, ignorance and particularly against our country," said senator, Armando Rios.
Mexican lawmakers have launched the #dilesquevoten, or #tellthemtovote in English, campaign to encourage Latinos in the United States to go out and vote against Trump.
"There is a certain thinking that victory is Hillary Clinton's. If it is true then it is very good news for Mexico. There are issues with Hillary Clinton but at least it is not based on hate, resentment and a campaign that is anti-Mexican like Donald Trump's," said senator, Gabriela Cuevas.
The US election has also been a hot topic on campus at Mexico City's UNAM university. Academic experts on US-Mexican relations weighed in on the vote.
Mexico is the 3rd largest trading partner for the United States and the Latin American country sends some 80 percent of its exports north of the border.
Academic, Jaqueline Peschard, told media there is a lot at stake in building a wall across the border.
"It's a commercial relationship, a relationship of an exchange of people, a fluid relationship so that when it is said that a wall will be built then it will break these relationships. I think what Mexico needs to do is to develop, or continue to develop an external policy that clearly defends Mexico's interests," she said.
Academic, Raul Benitez, declared that relations between Mexico and the United States have been damaged during the campaign under both candidates, Trump and Clinton.
"Clearly relations need to be restored whoever wins because with Hillary things have deteriorated with Trump's visit and with Trump it has deteriorated because of what he has said about Mexicans. Trump has expressed himself to the Mexican president but he has said many things about Mexicans in the United States which are clearly offensive for everyone. Not only does it offend those in Mexico but it also concerns those over there because they are scared that there will be actions against them, financially and racism against them," he said.
In September, Trump visited Mexico at the invitation of President Enrique Pena Nieto. The visit sparked the ire of many Mexicans angry at the president's welcome for the Republican candidate.
"The president and I will solve those problems, will will get them solved: illegal immigration is a problem for Mexico as well as for us. Drugs are a tremendous problem for Mexico as well as us. You know, it is not a one-way street," declared Trump.
After his meeting with Pena Nieto, Trump told media in Mexico City that he skirted payment of the border wall during his meeting with the Mexican leader.
"We did discuss the wall, we didn't discuss payment of the wall, that'll be for a later date. This is for a very preliminary meeting," added Trump.
Previously, Pena Nieto has compared Trump to Hitler and Mussolini for his rhetoric on Mexicans.
But during his meeting with Trump, Pena Nieto was criticised for going easy on the presidential candidate.
"Each year millions of weapons and millions of dollars in cash enter Mexico illegally from the north," said Pena Nieto.
A Reuters/Ipsos States of the Nation poll on Monday (November 07) gave Clinton a 90 percent chance of defeating Trump and said she was on track to win 303 Electoral College votes out of 270 needed, to Trump's 235.
But Clinton's comfortable lead over her rival has eroded since late last month in a tightening race. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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