Mexico’s ruling party loses grip on power in midterm elections marred by violence

Many voters say the president failed to boost the economy and curb crime.

PRETORIA, June 7 (ANA) – Mexico’s ruling political coalition is projected to lose its qualified majority in the lower house of congress after a poor showing in midterm elections, CNN reported on Monday.

The US broadcaster said the defeat will prevent President Andrés Manuel López Obrador from passing major legislative and constitutional reforms without the help of opposition parties. However, his ruling coalition is still expected to maintain a simple majority.

López Obrador’s left-leaning political party, Morena, won about 35% of the vote. Morena and its governing partner, Partido Verde, are expected to win between 265 and 292 of the 500 seats in the lower house, CNN quoted the National Electoral Institute (INE) as saying.

INE was quoted as saying that Morena holds 256 seats but will lose at least 50 following the midterms. It is expected to win between 190 to 203 seats after Sunday’s contest.

The results are preliminary, and the final results are expected next week, CNN added.

The BBC reported that many voters say the president failed to boost the economy and curb crime.

López Obrador has faced increasing criticism for his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and his failure to crack down on drug cartels. Opponents also accuse him of undermining the country’s institutions, such as the judiciary and electoral authorities, the British broadcaster wrote.

It said the president has dismissed the claims, saying his rivals are part of the elite that opposes his efforts against corruption and wasteful spending.

According to multiple media reports, this year’s campaign was one of the bloodiest in the country’s recent history, and Sunday’s elections were marred by a wave of violence.

In the border of Tijuana, a man threw a severed head at a polling station and plastic bags filled with body parts were found nearby. Meanwhile, five workers were killed on the eve of the vote, the BBC said.

Al Jazeera quoted security consultancy firm Etellekt as saying that at least 89 politicians, including 35 candidates, have been killed during the election campaign.

Separately, the firm registered 782 attacks against politicians and candidates, ranging from verbal threats and intimidation to beatings, property damage, kidnappings, attacks on family members and abuse of authority.

The broadcaster reported that during the 2018 election, Etellekt reported a total of 774 acts of violence and 152 political killings.

The organisation added that during the last midterm vote in 2015, the country also registered 61 political assassinations over nine months.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher