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Andrés Manuel López Obrador, also known as AMLO, is a Mexican politician and former mayor of Mexico City. He is known for running in the 2006 presidential election, which he claims he won by over 500,000 votes. López Obrador established several policies to help low-income citizens while serving as mayor, but his most controversial period began when he contested the results of the presidential election, which he lost to Felipe Calderón. López Obrador formed an opposition group and is still fighting what he sees as the government’s unjust actions.
Andrés Manuel López Obrador, also known as AMLO or “El Peje”, is a prominent Mexican politician and former mayor of Mexico City. Though he has considerable political history behind him, he is best known for running in the 2006 presidential election, which he claims he won by over 500,000 votes.
López Obrador was born on November 13, 1953 in the state of Tabasco, Mexico. After graduating from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), he worked in political campaigns, led the Instituto Indigenista, defending the rights of indigenous peoples, and worked in various government agencies. He eventually ran for governor, but lost to Roberto Madrazo in a controversial election that would pave the way for his political future. Just six years later, he was elected mayor of Mexico City, with the title of “Head of Government of the Federal District”.
López Obrador was well liked by Mexico City residents, mainly because he established several policies to help low-income citizens. This included a welfare-type system of financial assistance for the elderly and single mothers, the creation of a new free university, the establishment of an express bus service across the city, and the complete restoration of the historic city centre, which it has resulted in new investment and job opportunities.
His most controversial period began on July 6, 2006, when the official vote count for the presidential election was announced. Lopez Obrador was running for the presidency against Felipe Calderón, who was announced as the winner by just 0.58 percentage points over López Obrador. López Obrador contested the results, believing that President Fox had interfered in the election, thus influencing the results. After investigating, the Federal Electoral Tribunal (TEPJF) decided that the election was valid and that Felipe Calderon was, in fact, the new president. Protests and marches were organized by supporters of López Obrador, but to no avail. The former governor himself spearheaded several acts of civil disobedience, including the blockade of major shopping streets and toll booths on several highways.
On November 20, 2006, López Obrador was declared by his followers the “legitimate president” of Mexico. He then formed an opposition group, which he called a “shadow cabinet,” with the intention of fighting what he sees as the government’s unjust actions. The opposition campaign is strong and ongoing, and should last throughout Calderón’s presidency. The media has been extremely supportive of the former president, based in part on the belief that his actions “will become the conscience of the nation.”
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