Mexico’s president hits out at implicit criticism from US | Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Information

‘There’s at the moment extra democracy in Mexico than in the US,’ Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador says.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has rebuked an announcement from Washington that appeared to criticise an electoral reform regulation in his nation, accusing the US of meddling within the affairs of its neighbour.

Lopez Obrador mentioned on Tuesday the US at all times interferes “in issues that don’t concern” it.

A day earlier, the US State Division weighed in on a regulation that will reduce the finances for Mexico’s impartial electoral company. Hundreds had gathered in Mexico Metropolis on Sunday to reject the laws, saying it erodes democracy and weakens election integrity.

Washington didn’t explicitly criticise the measure however mentioned it helps “impartial, well-resourced electoral establishments that strengthen democratic processes and the rule of regulation”.

The US remarks irked Lopez Obrador, who had defended the electoral reform regulation as a push to chop prices for taxpayers. After narrowly shedding his first presidential bid in 2006, Lopez Obrador made allegations of voting fraud, and he has been crucial of Mexico’s electoral company since then.

“There’s at the moment extra democracy in Mexico than in the US,” he mentioned on Tuesday.

Mexican presidents are constitutionally restricted to at least one six-year time period in workplace, so Lopez Obrador is not going to search reelection in subsequent yr’s presidential vote, although his left-wing Morena celebration is taken into account among the many front-runners.

The US State Division had additionally confused on Monday the significance of “respect for judicial independence” in a “wholesome democracy”. Lopez Obrador has beforehand criticised Mexico’s judiciary, driving accusations by opposition members that he’s threatening the nation’s courtroom system.

“At present, in Mexico, we see an incredible debate on electoral reforms on the independence of electoral and judicial establishments that illustrates Mexico’s vibrant democracy,” the State Division mentioned on Monday. “We respect Mexico’s sovereignty.”

Later within the day, State Division spokesperson Ned Value mentioned the US views Mexico as an “equal associate”, including that Secretary of State Antony Blinken is “very targeted on the erosion of democracy around the globe”.

The Mexican president mentioned on Tuesday that, as a substitute of commenting on Mexico, Washington ought to “take care of what’s occurring in Peru”.

He denounced what he known as US help for “the coup plotters who trampled on freedoms and democracy in that nation”.

Lopez Obrador has been a vocal supporter of Peru’s former left-wing President Pedro Castillo, who was faraway from workplace by legislators late final yr and changed by his then-vice president, Dina Boluarte, after he tried to dissolve Congress.

Boluarte — who confronted lethal protests in opposition to her authorities previously weeks — has accused Lopez Obrador of “unacceptable” interference in her nation’s affairs after he questioned the legitimacy of her authorities.

In December, Washington recognised and pledged to work with Boluarte’s authorities.

“America appears to be like ahead to working carefully with President Boluarte on shared targets and values associated to democracy, human rights, safety, anti-corruption and financial prosperity,” the State Division mentioned after a telephone name between Blinken and the Peruvian president final yr.