Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s attacks on opposition rival Senator Xochitl Galvez are backfiring, gaining her support and raising concerns among his own party.
Lopez Obrador has mentioned Galvez by name over 50 times in his press conferences since she announced her presidential candidacy on June 27.
Galvez, an Indigenous computer engineer with political skill and humor, has rejuvenated the opposition’s hopes in the race to succeed Lopez Obrador.
The president has portrayed Galvez as corrupt, even publicizing her alleged business dealings. Galvez accuses him of abuse of power.
Former Lopez Obrador supporter Alfa Gonzalez said, “With everything he’s doing, what it tells you is that he’s afraid.”
The president’s office and Galvez declined to comment.
Lopez Obrador’s popularity is crucial for his party’s chances of winning a second term in the upcoming presidential election.
However, his approval rating has fallen nearly 3.5 percentage points to 58.4% since June 30.
Galvez, who grew up in poverty, claims to be of humbler origins than Lopez Obrador’s contenders.
Galvez’s complaint against Lopez Obrador for breaching impartiality rules has resulted in an order for him to remain neutral from the electoral authority.
Some of Lopez Obrador’s supporters see parallels between his treatment and his past experiences with President Vicente Fox of the National Action Party (PAN).
Fox stripped Lopez Obrador of immunity in 2005, which increased his popularity ahead of the 2006 presidential election.
A senior Mexican official believes Lopez Obrador’s treatment of Galvez could lead to increased opposition presence in Congress in 2024.
Lopez Obrador’s allies have advised him to keep quiet about Galvez to avoid boosting her profile.
However, he insists that the public should know she went from selling jelly to becoming a millionaire.
MORENA politician Lorena Villavicencio warns against negative campaigning, urging her party to avoid tactics used against Lopez Obrador in the past.
(Reporting by Dave Graham; editing by Susan Heavey)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
