Mexico election: López Obrador heads for landslide win as rivals concede


FE Team | Published: July 02, 2018 10:46:49 | Updated: July 02, 2018 18:33:15


Presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador talks to reporters as he departs after casting his ballot at a polling station during the presidential election in Mexico City, Mexico on Sunday - Reuters photo

Left-wing candidate Andrés Manuel López Obrador is heading for a landslide victory in Mexico's presidential election, exit polls indicate.

The former mayor of Mexico City, who was the front-runner ahead of the vote, looks to have polled about 53 per cent, one survey by Parametria said.

All exit polls and initial results put him well ahead, according to a BBC report Monday.

His closest rivals have both admitted defeat and congratulated Mr López Obrador on his victory.

Ruling party candidate José Antonio Meade, who lies in third place according to initial results, told supporters that he wished him "the greatest success".

Mr Meade's Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) has dominated Mexican politics for much of the past century but has slumped in popularity.

Ricardo Anaya, candidate for the conservative National Action Party (PAN), looked set to be runner-up to Mr López Obrador - who is widely known by his initials, Amlo.

"I recognise his triumph, I express my congratulations, and I wish him the greatest success for the good of Mexico," Mr Anaya said.

US President Donald Trump took to Twitter to congratulate Mr López Obrador "on becoming the next president of Mexico".

Sunday's election followed one of Mexico's deadliest campaigns in decades with more than 130 political candidates and party workers killed.

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