- Title: Mexico's left battles ruling party in key state election
- Date: 1st June 2017
- Summary: MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (JUNE 1, 2017) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** POLITICAL ANALYST, ARTURO SANCHEZ, WORKING IN HIS OFFICE SANCHEZ WORKING ON HIS LAPTOP (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POLITICAL ANALYST, ARTURO SANCHEZ, SAYING: "For certain if MORENA win the State of Mexico we will start to hear voices that say MORENA is strengthening greatly for the presidential election, and subsequently Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. If that were not to happen, that is not mean that Andres Manuel has lost. Whatever the case, for 2018 his candidacy will have a much more narrow path. So whatever happens this Sunday (June 4), it will redraw the country's (political) map in many ways." ECATEPEC, STATE OF MEXICO, MEXICO (MAY 31, 2017) (REUTERS) INSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTIONARY PARTY (PRI) CANDIDATE ALFREDO DEL MAZO GREETING SUPPORTERS AT RALLY SUPPORTERS AT RALLY HOLDING UP POSTERS FOR LOCAL WOMEN'S GROUP THAT SUPPORTS THE PRI PARTY PRI PRESIDENT ENRIQUE OCHOA WAVING FINGER IN THE AIR TO INDICATE OUT / (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRI PRESIDENT ENRIQUE OCHOA, SAYING: "Go (Lopez Obrador) live in Venezuela because in the State of Mexico we will tell him to get out because the governor will be Alfredo del Mazo." GENERAL VIEW OF RALLY WITH DEL MAZO WAVING TO SUPPORTERS FROM STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) INSTITUTIONAL REVOLUTIONARY PARTY (PRI) CANDIDATE ALFREDO DEL MAZO, SAYING: "The State of Mexico is, has been, and will continue to be led by those who know that the only way to work is to work hard and with everyone. Let's go together towards victory on June 04." PRI SUPPORTERS CHEERING AT RALLY MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (JUNE 1, 2017) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POLITICAL ANALYST, ARTURO SANCHEZ, SAYING: "What will be measured is the prestige of the President (Enrique Pena Nieto) and the political leadership of his party. That is what is going to be on the table on Sunday. And given the fact that two elections in Coahuila and the State of Mexico are so close, that speaks of a great discontent in both states towards the PRI." CHICOLOAPAN, STATE OF MEXICO, MEXICO (MAY 31, 2017) (REUTERS) GOMEZ TAKES THE MICROPHONE ON STAGE AT A RALLY SUPPORTERS CHEERING AT RALLY (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MORENA CANDIDATE, DELFINA GOMEZ, SAYING: "They (PRI) had more than 86 years to have a more just, more equitable State of Mexico. That is why they say, 'it has arrived, it's here,' (the party) that will remove the PRI." SUPPORTERS CHANTING "DELFINA" AT RALLY CUAUTITLAN, STATE OF MEXICO, MEXICO (MAY 30, 2017) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) MORENA SUPPORTER, SARINA GUERRERO, SAYING: "The conditions are in place for a change in government, a real alternative. I feel like now is the time, the conditions are in place. Personally, I think the electoral moment is now in 2018. If not then we need to pursue another route."
- Embargoed: 16th June 2017 00:10
- Keywords: Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador leftist Alfredo del Mazo Institutional Revolutionary Party state elections President Enrique Pena Nieto MORENA Party State of Mexico Mexico governor Delfina Gomez
- Location: CHICOLOAPAN, ECATEPEC, CUAUTITLAN, STATE OF MEXICO, MEXICO CITY, UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, MEXICO
- City: CHICOLOAPAN, ECATEPEC, CUAUTITLAN, STATE OF MEXICO, MEXICO CITY, UNIDENTIFIED LOCATION, MEXICO
- Country: Mexico
- Topics: Government/Politics,Elections/Voting
- Reuters ID: LVA0036JG64HV
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Nearly nine decades of rule by President Enrique Pena Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in Mexico's most populous state is hanging in the balance amidst a resurgent left led by political firebrand, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
Two polls showed PRI was in a photo-finish with the new party of veteran leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the National Regeneration Movement or MORENA.
A poll in newspaper Reforma showed MORENA's gubernatorial candidate for the state, Delfina Gomez, had 31.9 percent support, ahead of PRI rival Alfredo del Mazo with 30.7 percent. A second poll in newspaper El Universal put del Mazo in front with 33.8 percent support, with Gomez at 29.3 percent.
MORENA's chance of victory will depend on voter turnout in the State of Mexico. Lopez Obrador has accused his PRI rivals of buying votes. He believes if he can amass enough supporters he can overcome PRI's support base.
Castigating Pena Nieto for his government's failure to stamp out political corruption and rising gang violence, Lopez Obrador and his candidate for state governor Delfina Gomez have sought to turn the state campaign into a referendum on PRI rule in the biggest remaining bastion of the ruling party.
Mexico's ruling party has gone on the attack against MORENA and accused its main leftist rival of trying to turn the country into strife-torn Venezuela.
Speaking at PRI candidate Alberto del Mazo's closing rally in the Mexico City suburb of Ecatepec, PRI Chairman Enrique Ochoa sought to brand MORENA as an ally of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.
MORENA's anti-corruption message has gained traction nationally as Pena Nieto and the PRI struggles to contain graft scandals and gang violence that have battered its reputation.
With Pena Nieto's popularity at record lows and violence still rampant in many parts of Mexico, the president could contribute to the unseating of the PRI in its traditional stamping ground.
A possible win for Lopez Obrador could build momentum for his presidential win in 2018, a move that could stoke tensions with the United States after President Donald Trump's electoral campaign broadsides against Mexico, such as insisting it would pay for a wall on the U.S. border. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
