Obrador to be 'parallel president'

by Lisa Adams
Hundreds of thousands of supporters of Mexico's leftwing leader, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, elected him head of a parallel government that plans to oppose president-elect Felipe Calderon's administration for the next six years.

The weekend "vote" - a show of hands in the capital's vast Zocalo plaza -follows weeks of dispute over the July 2 national election. Mr Lopez Obrador claims that fraud and illegal government spending were responsible for the conservative Mr Calderon's narrow poll victory.

"It should be clear why we've taken this road," said Mr Lopez Obrador. "It's not because of a whim or anything personal ... this is the firm and honourable response to those who have converted our political institutions into a grotesque farce."

The crowd agreed not to recognise Mr Calderon as the nation's leader, and to create a parallel government in Mexico City, complete with its own cabinet. Mr Lopez Obrador will be sworn in as "legitimate president" on November 20, the Mexican Revolution holiday. Mr Calderon will be inaugurated on December 1.

Mr Lopez Obrador's supporters backed the formation of a "progressive front" to replace the former coalition of leftwing parties behind him. The rally turnout - organisers claimed 1.2 million people - reflected his strong following, despite a recent federal electoral tribunal ruling rejecting most of his fraud allegations and awarding the presidency to Mr Calderon.