Mexico election runner-up demands vote recount

Runner-up in Mexico’s presidential poll on Sunday rejects defeat and demands vote recount after accusing competitor of foul play.

4 July 2012, 12:00am

1 min read

Presidential election runner-up Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador of Mexico

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, of the leftist Party of Democratic Recolution (PRD), said that for the good of democracy and Mexico, all the votes must be counted after becoming the runner-up in Sunday’s presidential poll.

He demanded a total recount of the vote after refusing to concede victory after the official preliminary count resulted in a majority of more than six points being given to the Institutional Revolutionary Party’s (PRI) Enrique Pena Nieto.

Lobez Obrador accused the PRI victor of breaking electoral rules and claimed to have evidence proving indiscretions.

Pena Nieto was also accused of using funds beyond the party’s allotted electoral budget.

According to initial official results, Lopez Obrador gained 31.64% of the votes while Pena Nieto achieved the majority with 38.15%.