Andres Manuel López Obrador wins México's presidency

Left-wing veteran politician Andres Manuel López Obrado won México’s general election on Sunday to become the country’s president.

The landslide victory of López Obrador, the MORENA-PT-PES center-left coalition candidate who is popularly known as “Amlo” spells a rejection of the status quo by voters in a country which has been defined by centrism for decades. It also puts a leftist leader at the helm of Latin America’s second-largest economy.

López Obrador will receive official powers on December 1 for the period 2018-2024.

This is the third time López Obrador has run for president, after being beaten by Felipe Calderón Hinojosa in 2006 and Enrique Peña Nieto in 2012.

The 64-year-old politician was born in the Mexican state of Tabasco.

In his victory speech López Obrador promised to maintain restraint and pursue law and order, with the aim to heal the wounds left by a failed security strategy concentrated on fighting drug cartels. He also promised to fight corruption and address Mexico’s endemic poverty.

“I call on all Mexicans to reconciliation, and to put above their personal interests, however legitimate, the greater interest, the general interest,” he said. “The state will cease to be a committee at the service of a minority and will represent all Mexicans, rich and poor, those who live in the country and in the city, migrants, believers and nonbelievers, to people of all philosophies and sexual preferences.”

López Obrador has also promised to reverse recent reforms in the country’s energy sector. Mexico is an oil rich country, placed 19th in the list of the largest proven oil reserves.

Source: WikiTribune