MEXICO: Mexico's leftist "president" Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador warns of protests

A leftist opposition leader who says he was robbed of victory in July's election was sworn in as Mexico's "legitimate president" on Monday (November 20) and threatened street protests against President-elect Felipe Calderon. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador donned a red-white-and-green sash like those used by Mexico's presidents and promised tens of thousands of supporters his parallel government would work for the poor. "I exalt to fulfill the General Constitution of the Republic, to carry out loyally and patriotically the position of legitimate president of Mexico," Lopez Obrador said in Mexico City's central Zocalo square in a ceremony that had no legal weight and was opposed by most Mexicans. Supporters chanted: "President, president" as Lopez Obrador took the stage on a cold, windy afternoon and a leftist senator helped him put on the sash. Ruling party conservative Calderon won the July 2 election by a razor-thin margin and Mexico's top election court threw out Lopez Obrador's allegations of massive fraud. "They have attacked me without a truce because I said to hell with your institutions. But we were not the ones who spoiled them, it was them," said Obrador of rival. The leftist, a former welfare officer for Indians, said he would call supporters into the streets "whenever the right tries to impose something contrary to the general interest." Obrador detailed his plans to run a parallel government. "This legitimate government will perform a deep democratic transformation. Our main goal will be, the goal of the legitimate government I insist, will be the protection of the people's rights and the defense of Mexican patrimony and national sovereignty," he announced. "Millions of Mexicans refuse to support more breaches. That's why it's so important to ignore the taunting and to confirm this legitimate government and continue building the new republic and its institutions," added Obrador. Leftist protests after the election crippled central Mexico City for weeks and divided the country, often along class lines. Lopez Obrador's swearing-in on the anniversary of the start of the Mexican Revolution in 1910 was an attempt to revive his left-wing movement. But a poll in Reforma daily on Monday showed 56 percent of respondents opposed the decision, while just 19 percent backed him. "It's clear to me that he is going to work for the people. He (Obrador) is a legitimate president and he deserves all the best," supporter Heriberto Rodriguez said. Lopez Obrador has no power to raise taxes or pass laws but is bound to be a thorn in the side for Calderon, who takes power on December 1. The square, which holds more than 100,000 people, was full for Monday's ceremony. Calderon also faces a growing war between well-armed drug gangs along with chaos in the southern state of Oaxaca where protesters have been trying to oust Gov. Ulises Ruiz who they say is authoritarian and corrupt. Demonstrators clashed with federal riot police firing tear gas in the state capital, Oaxaca city, also on Monday. Lawmakers from the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution have vowed to prevent Calderon from holding his inauguration ceremony in Congress a week on Friday. Federal police have already set up barricades around the Chamber of Deputies to prevent Lopez Obrador's supporters from setting up new protest camps there in coming days. The election highlighted a rift between the rich and Mexico's poor, whom Lopez Obrador had promised to serve if he won. While Lopez Obrador, the former Mexico City mayor, drew strong support from the poor, many business leaders and middle-class Mexicans feared he would put the country in debt and scare off investment. Washington was concerned Lopez Obrador would put Mexico in an anti-U.S. group of Latin American nations led by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Cuban President Fidel Castro. Calderon plans to continue the pro-business policies of outgoing President Vicente Fox and is likely to be a firm ally of the United States.

ITN Source | November 21, 2006

Tags:. .vowed. .deserves. .riot. .revive. .manuel