‘There are more democracies in Mexico now than in the United States,’ Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said.
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador dismissed a statement from Washington that appeared to criticize his country’s electoral reform law, accusing the United States of meddling in its neighbour’s affairs.
Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday that the United States always interferes in “unrelated matters” to it.
A day earlier, the US State Department weighed in on a law that will budget cuts for Mexico’s independent electoral body. Thousands of people gathered in Mexico City on Sunday to protest the law, saying it erodes democracy and undermines the integrity of elections.
Washington did not explicitly criticize the measure but said it supported “well-resourced, independent electoral institutions that underpin democratic processes and the rule of law”.
The US remarks upset Lopez Obrador, who has defended the electoral reform law as an incentive to cut costs for taxpayers. After losing his first presidential run in 2006, Lopez Obrador made an allegation of electoral fraud and he has been critical of Mexico’s electoral authority ever since.
“Mexico now has more democracy than in the United States,” he said Tuesday.
Mexican presidents are constitutionally limited to a six-year term, so Lopez Obrador will not run for re-election in next year’s presidential vote, even though his left-wing Morena party is seen as one of the few. top candidates.
The US State Department on Monday also stressed the importance of “respecting judicial independence” in a “healthy democracy”. Lopez Obrador has previously criticized Mexican justiceled opposition members to accuse him of threatening the country’s court system.
“Today, in Mexico, we witness a major debate on electoral reform over the independence of the electoral and judicial authorities that exemplifies the vibrant democracy of Mexico,” the State Department said. delivery said Monday. “We respect Mexico’s sovereignty.”
Later in the day, State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States considers Mexico an “equal partner,” adding that Secretary of State Antony Blinken is “very focused on the erosion of democracy around the world.” “.
The Mexican president said on Tuesday that, instead of commenting on Mexico, Washington should “address what is happening in Peru”.
He denounced what he called US support for “coup plotters who trampled on freedoms and democracy in that country”.
Lopez Obrador is a strong supporter of former leftist President of Peru Pedro Castillo, who removed from office by legislators late last year and was replaced by his then-vice president, Dina Boluarte, after he attempted to dissolve Congress.
Boluarte – who has faced deadly protests against his government in recent weeks – accused Lopez Obrador on “unacceptable” interference in her country’s affairs after he questioned the legitimacy of her government.
In December, Washington recognized and committed to cooperate with the government of Boluarte.
“The United States looks forward to working closely with President Boluarte on shared goals and values related to democracy, human rights, security, anti-corruption, and economic prosperity,” the State Department said later. phone conversation between Blinken and the president of Peru last year .
