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Mexico's Lopez Obrador rejects presidential poll ruling | Mexico's Lopez Obrador rejects presidential poll ruling |
(about 11 hours later) | |
Mexico's presidential runner-up Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has rejected a court ruling upholding July's election and called for a mass demonstration. | |
The left-winger said the country's highest electoral tribunal made an illegitimate decision. | The left-winger said the country's highest electoral tribunal made an illegitimate decision. |
On Friday, the body went on to formally confirm the winner, Enrique Pena Nieto, as president-elect. | |
Mr Lopez Obrador had accused Mr Pena Nieto of using illicit money to buy votes and media coverage. | |
But the tribunal ruled that he had not produced enough evidence of wrongdoing. | But the tribunal ruled that he had not produced enough evidence of wrongdoing. |
"I cannot accept the ruling of the electoral tribunal, which declared the presidential election valid," Mr Lopez Obrador told reporters on Friday - just hours after the court's decision. | "I cannot accept the ruling of the electoral tribunal, which declared the presidential election valid," Mr Lopez Obrador told reporters on Friday - just hours after the court's decision. |
"The elections were neither clean nor free or genuine, therefore I will not recognise an illegitimate administration that emerged from votes that were bought and other grave violations of the constitution." | "The elections were neither clean nor free or genuine, therefore I will not recognise an illegitimate administration that emerged from votes that were bought and other grave violations of the constitution." |
The former Mexico City mayor also called on his supporters to hold a demonstration in the capital's main square on 9 September. | The former Mexico City mayor also called on his supporters to hold a demonstration in the capital's main square on 9 September. |
Six years ago, after losing the presidential election by a narrow margin, Mr Lopez Obrador led weeks of protests that caused disruption in central areas of the capital. | Six years ago, after losing the presidential election by a narrow margin, Mr Lopez Obrador led weeks of protests that caused disruption in central areas of the capital. |
On Thursday, all seven judges on the Federal Electoral Tribunal voted to reject the runner-up's accusations. | On Thursday, all seven judges on the Federal Electoral Tribunal voted to reject the runner-up's accusations. |
"There is no proof of vote-buying, there is no proof of coercion," Judge Flavio Galvan Rivera told the tribunal. | "There is no proof of vote-buying, there is no proof of coercion," Judge Flavio Galvan Rivera told the tribunal. |
Mr Pena Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which governed Mexico for 71 years until 2000, denied any wrongdoing. | Mr Pena Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which governed Mexico for 71 years until 2000, denied any wrongdoing. |
A recount of the election result gave Mr Pena Nieto 38% of the vote to Mr Lopez Obrador's 31%. | A recount of the election result gave Mr Pena Nieto 38% of the vote to Mr Lopez Obrador's 31%. |
After his confirmation by the tribunal on Friday, Mr Pena Nieto will now be sworn in as Mexico's next president on 1 December. | |
Limited options | Limited options |
There were minor scuffles between police and anti-PRI protesters outside the court after the decision was announced on Thursday. | There were minor scuffles between police and anti-PRI protesters outside the court after the decision was announced on Thursday. |
A student movement has organised several demonstrations against Mr Pena Nieto's victory since the election. | A student movement has organised several demonstrations against Mr Pena Nieto's victory since the election. |
But there are very few options left for Mr Lopez Obrador and his supporters, and the tribunal's decision - while expected by many - may have taken the wind out of their sails, says the BBC's Will Grant in Mexico City. | |
Mr Lopez Obrador, who leads the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), accused the PRI of bribing voters with presents ranging from supermarket gift cards to fertiliser, cement and livestock. | Mr Lopez Obrador, who leads the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), accused the PRI of bribing voters with presents ranging from supermarket gift cards to fertiliser, cement and livestock. |
He also claimed Mr Pena Nieto had broken campaign rules by overspending, and that Mexico's media was biased in favour of the PRI candidate. | He also claimed Mr Pena Nieto had broken campaign rules by overspending, and that Mexico's media was biased in favour of the PRI candidate. |
One of the main challenges awaiting the new president will be the future of current government anti-drugs policy. | One of the main challenges awaiting the new president will be the future of current government anti-drugs policy. |
The PRI did not win a majority in congressional elections, also held on 1 July. This means he will probably need support from opposition parties. | The PRI did not win a majority in congressional elections, also held on 1 July. This means he will probably need support from opposition parties. |
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