Mexico's presidential front-runner vows more welfare, formalizes bid
DECEMBER 12, 2017 / 2:25 PM / UPDATED AN HOUR AGO
Frank Jack Daniel
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican front-runner for next year’s election, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, formalized his bid for the presidency on Tuesday and promised his government would spend on the young, elderly and farmers.
Left-winger Lopez Obrador, who had a 12-point lead in one recent poll, wants to significantly change Mexico’s approach to the economy, security and education, vowing more support for the poorest but without new taxes or higher debt levels.
He promised cheap fertilizer and fixed produce prices for farmers with a goal of making Mexico self-sufficient in food. He also offered paid apprenticeships for unemployed youth, grants for students and higher pensions for the elderly - expanding on popular welfare programs introduced when he governed Mexico City.
A win by the 64-year-old self-declared nationalist on July 1 could reverse a Latin American trend toward right-leaning governments and set the stage for friction with U.S. President Donald Trump over his anti-migrant language and policies.
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