Pay attention everyone, this is NOT an incremental step in the escalation of post-election tensions in Mexico. This is a qualitative leap forward in the ratcheting of pressure Lopez Obrador and his supporters are placing upon the Mexican Federal Electoral Tribunal to order a complete hand recount of all 41 plus million ballots of the July 2 election. I have also been at the Mexico City newspaper site El Universal this morning and it is filled with stories of the shutting down of Mexico City's central district.
Many observers recognize that if the full recount Lopez Obrador is demanding, which is not provided for under Mexican electoral law due to the fact that the vote is certified by party representatives in each precinct on election day, does go ahead and does not favor him that he and his followers will demand that the election be "annulled," an option that is provided for under Mexican law.
Today's occupation of the center of the nation's capital and its accomapanying closure of the city's central district -- which is where the government buildings are -- could be the first step towards a seizure of the government on the part of Mexico's left. It would be going too far to say that is what is going on, but Lopez Obrador and his followers have erected 47 encampments around the city they are describing as "permanent" unless their demands are met. This is for real.
1 posted on 07/31/2006 11:20:01 AM EDT by StJacques