‘There’s at present extra democracy in Mexico than in the US,’ Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has rebuked an announcement from Washington that appeared to criticize an electoral reform regulation in his nation, accusing the US of meddling within the affairs of its neighbor.
Lopez Obrador mentioned on Tuesday the US at all times interferes “in issues that do not concern” it.
A day earlier, the US State Division weighed in on a regulation that may minimize the price range for Mexico’s impartial electoral company. 1000’s had gathered in Mexico Metropolis on Sunday to reject the laws, saying it erodes democracy and weakens election integrity.
Washington didn’t explicitly criticize the measure however mentioned it helps “impartial, well-resourced electoral establishments that strengthen democratic processes and the rule of regulation”.
The US remarks irked Lopez Obrador, who had defended the electoral reform regulation as a push to chop prices for taxpayers. After narrowly shedding his first presidential bid in 2006, Lopez Obrador made allegations of voting fraud, and he has been essential of Mexico’s electoral company since then.
“There’s at present extra democracy in Mexico than in the US,” he mentioned on Tuesday.
Mexican presidents are constitutionally restricted to at least one six-year time period in workplace, so Lopez Obrador won’t search reelection in subsequent yr’s presidential vote, although his left-wing Morena celebration is taken into account among the many front-runners.
The US State Division had additionally confused on Monday the significance of “respect for judicial independence” in a “wholesome democracy”. Lopez Obrador has beforehand criticized Mexico’s judiciarydriving accusations by opposition members that he’s threatening the nation’s court docket system.
“Right now, in Mexico, we see an awesome debate on electoral reforms on the independence of electoral and judicial establishments that illustrates Mexico’s vibrant democracy,” the State Division mentioned on Monday. “We respect Mexico’s sovereignty.”
Later within the day, State Division spokesman Ned Worth mentioned the US views Mexico as an “equal accomplice”, including that Secretary of State Antony Blinken is “very targeted on the erosion of democracy world wide”.
The Mexican president mentioned on Tuesday that, as an alternative of commenting on Mexico, Washington ought to “cope with what’s occurring in Peru”.
He denounced what he known as US assist for “the coup plotters who trampled on freedoms and democracy in that nation”.
Lopez Obrador has been a vocal supporter of Peru’s former left-wing President Pedro Castillo, who was faraway from workplace by legislators late final yr and changed by his then-vice president, Dina Boluarte, after he tried to dissolve Congress.
Boluarte — who confronted lethal protests towards her authorities previously weeks — have accused López Obrador of “unacceptable” interference in her nation’s affairs after she questioned the legitimacy of her authorities.
In December Washington acknowledged and pledged to work with Boluarte’s authorities.
“The USA appears to be like ahead to working intently with President Boluarte on shared targets and values associated to democracy, human rights, safety, anti-corruption and financial prosperity,” the State Division mentioned after a cellphone name between Blinken and the Peruvian president final yr. .
