Lopez Obrador claims constitutional authority, calls "National Democratic Convention" (Translation)

eluniversal.com.mx ^ | August 15, 2006 | Jorge Ramos ( translated by self )

[StJacques]

AMLO Summons a National Democratic Convention

The PRD member evokes Article 39 of the Constitution to affirm that the people are the only ones who can change the government; he recalls the "Ayala Plan," signed by Emiliano Zapata.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador launched his call for a "National Democratic Convention For the Good of All," with its basis in Article 39 of the Constitution, to be held the 16th of September in the Zocalo capital square [in Mexico City].

The PRD member read said constitutional precept aloud and recalled that therein it is indicated that national sovereignty resides in the people and that all power emanates from the people as well, therefore they are the ones who can change the government.

The Tabasqueño¹ said that the "Ayala Plan" was also initiated thus on the part of Emiliano Zapata.²

In point of fact, he began the signing of said announcement and recalled that which Zapata said at the summons to the "Ayala Plan": "Let he who has no fear pass to sign it."

As members of the organizing commission he designated Jose Agustin Ortiz Pinchetti, the actress Jesusa Rodriguez, PRD member Rafael Hernandez, Deputy [of the lower chamber] Socorro Diaz, Senator-elect of the Convergencia³ Dante Delgado, Labor Party member Gonzalo Yanez, the writer Helena Poniatowska, and businessman Fernando Schute.

"The objective of the convention, he indicated, has as its fundamental proposition to decide with the representation of all the people of Mexico the document they will assume faced with the present circumstances," Lopez Obrador read.

Tomorrow Lopez Obrador will not lead his daily "informative assembly," because he will go to Chiapas to the closing of the campaign of Juan Sabines, [PRD] candidate for the governorship of that state. Dante Delgado will be in his place.

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Translator's Notes:

¹Lopez Obrador is from the Mexican state of Tabasco, on the Gulf Coast.

²This evokes the image of Emiliano Zapata and his Plan de Ayala, a radical proposal for land reform in the Mexican Revolution that had deep roots in Anarchist thought.

³The Convergencia refers to the "Convergence for Democracy," one of the leftist parties in alliance with Lopez Obrador's PRD in the "For the Good of All" coalition supporting his presidential candidacy.

[StJacques]

Here is the key quote:

"The objective of the convention, he indicated, has as its fundamental proposition to decide with the representation of all the people of Mexico the document they will assume faced with the present circumstances."

That sounds as though Lopez Obrador is declaring the revolutionary intent to rewrite the Mexican Constitution by mob action, rather than within the framework of Mexico's institutions.

I'm trying not to hit the panic button, but this really does look dangerous to me.

[thoughtomator]

It really does seem as if he is intent on starting a civil war down there, doesn't it?

[StJacques]

A Mex-Elex ping for you all.

Anyone wishing to track other translated articles can do so using the forum's "keyword search" option with the unique keyword "STJTRANSLATION"

[BunnySlippers]

I agree. I believe he wants revolution. They are not going to be happy until they have their little Chavez.

[StJacques]

Yes; it really does thoughtomator. I wish I could say differently, but he does not intend to accept defeat in this election, even though the partial recount shows very clearly that he did lose.

[Brad from Tennessee]

Typical leftist. If you can't win a legitimate national election you start a revolution.

[Antoninus]

Mexico's long overdue for a revolucion anyway. That Chiapas thing didn't cut it.

God help them!

[freedumb2003]

Thanks again, SJ!

[NormsRevenge]

Obragore needs to be arrested... but Vicente doesn't have the cahonies..

[Enterprise]

"I'm trying not to hit the panic button, but this really does look dangerous to me."

Here, you can borrow mine for now if you need one. It's new because I wore out my old one.

[GeronL]

wow... this is almost FR Breaking News worthy... it definitely will be if they carry out the threats

[buwaya]

Yes indeed. This is not good.

[Taylor42]

When this gets messy I wonder how they're going to blame it on the gringos to the north???

And will he stir up trouble here?

[rovenstinez]

When things begin to unravel, and people in the industrious north cities stop paying their taxes to Mexico City, with the loss of revenue Mexico City is facing now with tourism, newspapers reported close to 1,000 people laid off, related to the protests, when the money stops coming down the pipes, they'll be in sore WANT, and need to find an attitude to negotiate. About 90% of the hollering and carrying on is done by the rascals in Mexico City that never were happy with a President..ever.

[StJacques]

Are you tempting me to go ahead and hit it Enterprise? LOL!

I might start a panic on the Mexican stock exchange.

[StJacques]

rovenstinez;

What are people saying about this? Isn't this alarming to anyone? It looks really dangerous to me.

[msnimje]

He is going to name Cindy Mac his vice-president.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

It really does seem as if he is intent on starting a civil war down there, doesn't it?

Leftists do what they are allowed to get away with.

[conservative in nyc]

What's ObraGore going to change the constitution to say? The second-place candidate wins all Presidential elections in close races?

AMLO lost. He should get over it. But like all "good" leftists, he can't.

[A CA Guy]

Good excuse IMO for the Mexican government to jail or accidentally kill him.