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Mexico Leftist Loses Key Vote in Presidential Bid
Mexico City's leftist mayor lost a vote on Friday that could derail his presidential bid in 2006, as a legislative committee recommended Congress strip him of his immunity to face contempt of court charges. The committee voted 3-1 against Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who decried the charges as a politically motivated bid to oust him from the race in which he is the front-runner. Mexico, a major emerging market economy and trade ally of the United States, could face months of political and perhaps financial instability if the country fails to resolve the crisis. The lower house is expected to strip Lopez Obrador's immunity in coming days. If Congress votes against him, the mayor will face legal charges in a Mexico City land expropriation dispute that could force him out of the presidential election. The mayor, Mexico's most popular politician, vowed to organize a massive street protest against what he described as an "unjust, authoritarian and anti-democratic" plan by rivals scared of his populist policies. "That day will mark the beginning of a new era of fighting for the respect of the popular will and civil rights ... of all Mexicans," Lopez Obrador said, accusing conservative President Vicente Fox of masterminding the case against him. The mayor's aides are preparing for months of "civil resistance" protests and the head of the stock market warned this week the political upheaval could hit Mexican markets. Under Mexican law, Lopez Obrador may soon end up in jail, even before a verdict in the case. He has sworn to run for the presidency from behind bars if necessary. Posted by: Fred 2005-04-02 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=60471 |