Posted on 07/16/2006 3:07:23 PM PDT by StJacques
AMLO calls for a working day of peaceful civil resistance(Translation)
The presidential candidate of the For the Good of All coalition exhorted thousands of followers brought together in [Mexico City's] Zócalo capitol plaza to "defend democracy."
Andrés Manuel López Obrador headed a march of hundreds of thousands of his sympathizers who overwhelmed the streets of the center of Mexico City to demand a recount of each vote cast in the July 2 presidential elections and which, in his opinion, would permit [everyone] to ascertain that he won the fight and not his conservative rival.
"We are going to start, to defend democracy, peaceful civil resistance," the flag-bearer of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) said before his followers brought together in the Zócalo, the principal public plaza of the capital.
Sympathizers and supporters dressed for the most part in yellow, the color of the PRD, walked several kilometers between shouts of "vote by vote, casilla1 by casilla," and with placards above them reading "No to the . . . (cursed) fraud."
The police in the capitol, where the PRD governs, asserted that more than 900,000 people2 showed up, which would make this the largest demonstration held in Mexico City.
In a march against insecurity [due to crime] carried out in 2004, it was calculated that some 500,000 people participated, until then one of the largest demonstrations.
López Obrador has asserted that fraud was committed to give the triumph to Felipe Calderón of the National Action Party (PAN), who in the final count held four days after the elections obtained first place with an advantage of 243,934 votes or .58 percentage points.
"If after the recount (López Obrador) has lost, then we should recognize it," asserted Catalina González, a retired woman of 67 years, who strode some hundreds of meters in front of the leftist accompanied by her 28 year old son.
The PRD, which competed in the elections within a two party alliance named the For the Good of All coalition, challenged the results of the elections when they asked the Federal Electoral Tribunal to recount every one of the 41.7 million votes that were cast.
The leftist asserted Friday that if the recount is made he will hold off the social demonstrations he has summoned, even if the result does not favor him as occurred in the official count.
PAN has also challenged the election with the intention of amplifying Calderón's margin [of victory].
The future of the election is in the hands of the tribunal which began its analysis [of the results] last Saturday and must resolve the challenges no later than the 31 of August to announce a president-elect no farther than the 6th of September.
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Translator's Notes:
1The casillas are the "electoral packets" of the ballots cast in each precinct that are crated and sealed after the count is certified by on-site representatives of all the major parties and which are not supposed to be opened for a recount by the election officials unless irregularities are detected, though they can be opened to retrieve documents necessary for official reports.
2I regard the figure of 900,000 people in attendance as highly suspect. On Saturday July 8th the Mexico City and Federal District authorities, who are controlled by AMLO's PRD, estimated turnout at the demonstration that day at 280,000 while western media said anywhere from 100,000 to 150,000. I heard one report today that said "perhaps over 250,000 people." I have no accurate figures to give today, I just mention that I do not trust the official estimate.
O: 'Did'ja catch that, Vinnie?'
Vinnie: 'No problo. The Tony Express is on the way!'
Thank you once again. With first North Korea and now the Middle East dominating the press, the election and its aftermath have dropped off the screen. Your posts are all that I have heard of Obergore's ongoing challenge of the results.
Of course, if even selective recounts are performed with any increase in AMLO votes, no matter how small, he will use those to press for a full recount. This is the equivalent of the the door being pushed slightly ajar which makes it much easier to push all the open later. I expect he will shift his rhetoric in this area if any recounts are granted.
Of course, if even selective recounts are performed with any increase in AMLO votes, no matter how small, he will use those to press for a full recount. This is the equivalent of the the door being pushed slightly ajar which makes it much easier to push all the way open later. I expect he will shift his rhetoric in this area if any recounts are granted.
Uncertainty tests nation´s democracy (March in Mexico City has begun)
Hmmm double post. Sorry. Happens sometimes I guess.
Well I doubt the 900k figure more like 300k.
I am suprised no one posted the Reforma poll which said 60% of Mexicans did not favor a vote by vote recount while 37% did.
It also said that Calderon would win 47% to 36% if a second round were held.The rest would abstain or refused to answer.
The head of the largest union in Latina America, the Mexican Teachers Union, has said it will not participate in any of AMLO's mobilization.
In addition, the president of the teachers union, Sra Gordillo said she has called Calderon to congratulate him on his victory and when interviewed by the national news she said her internal exit poll showed Calderon the winner.
Sra Gordillo was just kicked out of the PRI and started her own party Nueva Alianza. They have recognized Calderon's victory.Obviously their #1 legislative priority is the education budget and raising teacher's salaries but shockinly their platform is libertarian.Although they seem to stress rights to aborition and gay sex rights rather than property rights.
Her new party sounds like a typical leftist one.
Does Nueva Alianza hold any of the positions upon which conservatism and libertarianism tend to agree upon(right to bear arms, property rights (as you mentioned) small government, ownership society)?
Mexiping
Desperation?
I read that 60% of mexicans polled think a recount is unnecessary. The same 37% that supported him already want a recount but it does not matter if they show up and demonstrate or not... will anyone be intimidated by a demonstration when the majority is not with them?
"Her new party sounds like a typical leftist one.
Does Nueva Alianza hold any of the positions upon which conservatism and libertarianism tend to agree upon(right to bear arms, property rights (as you mentioned) small government, ownership society)?"
I said libertarian because on the front page they make a statement supporting a market economy and link to internatinal federation of "liberal parties" that support personal as well as economic rights.
The closest fit seemed libertarian. The right to bear Arms is an Americanism.They do say they support property rights and a market economy.
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