Tens of hundreds marched with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Sunday in a large demonstration by way of the middle of the nation’s capital to point out their assist for the pinnacle of state earlier than a 2024 basic election.

“Mexico is no longer run by oligarchy, now there is a democratic system whose priority is the poor,” the president informed folks crowding the huge Zocalo sq. on the metropolis’s middle.

Lopez Obrador, whose administration has made double-digit minimal wages hikes for the previous 4 years, proposed that the 2023 improve might land round 20%, and forecast the nation’s financial development would beat expectations.

Supporters, lots of whom traveled to the capital by bus, shook palms and took selfies with the 69-year-old head of state as he crossed the sq., many waving flags for the ruling National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) social gathering.

“The president is from a humble background. He’s done a lot of social programs,” mentioned Teresa Magana, who pooled cash with a bunch of 40 to journey 12 hours from Tabasco, the president’s house state. “We want him to continue.”

The speech adopted a five-hour march by way of the capital’s Reforma Avenue and performances by mariachi musicians in the primary sq.. The president’s approval rankings are round 60%.

Electoral reform

Mexican presidents are restricted to a single six-year time period. Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard and Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, who have been on the march, are probably social gathering candidates to run for the subsequent election, scheduled for the summer season of 2024.

The march comes a fortnight after critics of the president’s plan to reform the nation’s electoral system got here to the streets in tens of hundreds, the most important demonstration towards his insurance policies to date.

Earlier this month, Congress began discussing the plan. Lopez Obrador, identified by his initials as AMLO, says his proposal would enhance democracy, restrict financial affect in politics and minimize promoting time, however his opponents concern the change might presage an influence seize.

The plan would scale back the price range of the nation’s INE electoral fee and alter the best way councillors are elected.

Some folks protested on Sunday with coffin-shaped indicators marked INE.

“AMLO criticizes the salaries of INE councillors,” wrote columnist Sergio Negrete on Twitter. “With the cost of his ego-boosting march, he could pay the salaries of 11 INE councillors for 43 years and three months.”