What Happened: After polling closed on July 1, but before the final tally of votes, three candidates running against Mexico's likely new president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, conceded defeat, Televista reported.
Why It Matters: Throughout his campaign, Lopez Obrador vowed to fight corruption, take measures to diminish violence and tackle widespread poverty. Though his policies remain unclear, this landslide victory puts Mexico's next president in a position to enact meaningful change. However, given his criticism of the private sector and desire to review energy contracts, goal of raising public spending, and talk of purging corrupt officials, the path ahead will not be without challenges. Beyond domestic issues, the most pressing foreign policy topic for Lopez Obrador to deal with will be the United States and NAFTA negotiations.
Background: Presidential candidates Jose Antonio Meade (Institutional Revolutionary Party coalition), Ricardo Anaya Cortes (National Action Party and Democratic Revolutionary Party coalition) and Jaime Rodriguez Calderon (Independent Candidate) conceded defeat in the election, congratulating Lopez Obrador on his win.
Read More:
- Historic Elections Could Change the Face of Mexico (June 30, 2018)
- Mexico Treads a Familiar Path Toward Populism (Dec. 4, 2017)
