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[rooster59]

Mexico new president vows to end 'rapacious' elite in first speech

By Lizbeth Diaz and Anthony Esposito

 

Mexico's new President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador gestures while heading to National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico December 1, 2018. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

 

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Veteran leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador was sworn in as Mexican president on Saturday, vowing to see off a "rapacious" elite in a country struggling with corruption, chronic poverty and gang violence on the doorstep of the United States.

 

Backed by a gigantic Mexican flag, the 65-year-old took the oath of office in the lower house of Congress, pledging to bring about a "radical" rebirth of Mexico to overturn what he called a disastrous legacy of decades of "neo-liberal" governments.

 

"The government will no longer be a committee at the service of a rapacious minority," said the new president, who is often nicknamed AMLO. Nor would the government, he said, be a "simple facilitator of pillaging, as it has been."

 

A major challenge facing Lopez Obrador is managing relations with Mexico's top trading partner, the United States, after repeated broadsides by President Donald Trump against Mexico over illegal immigrants crossing the U.S. border.

 

Lopez Obrador repeated he was seeking to contain migration through a deal with Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to foster development in Central America and Mexico.

 

The first leftist to take office in Mexico in a generation also tried to reassure business after markets slumped since the July 1 election on worries about his policies, including the abrupt cancellation of a $13 billion new Mexico City airport.

 

Lopez Obrador reiterated investments in the country of 130 million people would be safe, and to respect central bank independence. Saying his government would make savings by stopping losses from the public purse into the "sewer of corruption," he promised not to raise national debt or taxes.

 

But he promised higher wages for the poor and zero tolerance for corruption in his administration.

 

And in a reference to one of his heroes, the 19th-century Mexican President Benito Juarez, who separated the church and the state, Lopez Obrador said his government would ensure a divide between economic and political power in the country.

 

Making 16 references to "neo-liberal" policies in his speech, he vowed to abolish the "regime" he said it had created.

He blamed the government of his predecessor, Enrique Pena Nieto, for causing a plunge in oil output by opening the energy industry in Latin America's no. 2 economy to private investment.

 

Instead, he vowed to ramp up public investment to rescue state oil company Pemex, which is suffering from heavy debts.

 

Pena Nieto sat impassively two seats to the left of Lopez Obrador during the sustained attack on his economic legacy, at times touching his face, wiping his brow with his hand and taking occasional sips of water.

 

"There were few signs in AMLO's speech that the full reality of governing has sunk in thus far," said Duncan Wood, director of the Wilson Center's Mexico Institute.

 

"Markets will be deeply concerned about the future of the energy sector and the overly ambitious infrastructure plans without any way of paying for them," Wood added.

 

Still, Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim said he was reassured by the speech, responding to reporters that there was "no doubt" Mexico remained a safe place to invest.

 

"What is needed, as he said, is to generate jobs and combat poverty. The best investment is to combat poverty," he said.

 

TRUMP FACTOR

 

Lopez Obrador also reaffirmed plans to create a low-tax special economic zone on Mexico's northern border to act as the "final curtain" to keep Mexicans working inside their homeland.

 

He said Trump had treated him respectfully since the July 1 election, and thanked U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Trump daughter Ivanka Trump for attending the ceremony.

 

Since Pence is making only a short stop in Mexico to avoid a longer absence from the United States while Trump is at the G20 summit in Argentina, he will miss a lunch attended by a U.S. foe, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

 

Maduro did not attend the swearing-in, where opposition politicians shouted "dictator" and held up a blue banner with the words, "You are not welcome" when Lopez Obrador mentioned his name.

 

Under Maduro, Venezuela has suffered a debilitating economic crisis that has led to malnutrition in the once-wealthy country and forced millions of its people to migrate.

 

Members of Lopez Obrador's party applauded when he mentioned Maduro's name, with one member telling Reuters that they did not agree with booing another country, whatever its problems.

 

Some of the toughest challenges Lopez Obrador faces are more severe than when Pena Nieto took office in 2012 vowing to tackle unprecedented violence. Like his predecessor, the new president says security will be his top priority.

 

More than 25,000 murders, a record, were logged in 2017. Over 10,000 were registered between July and October, the bloodiest four-month period since modern records began in 1997.

 

Lopez Obrador, who plans to create a militarised nationwide National Guard to tackle crime, dedicated several minutes of the almost 90-minute-long speech to praise the armed forces, saying they had never been part of the "elite" or an "oligarchy."

 

He addressed critics who fear he could change the constitution to stay on longer than his six-year term permits to oversee what he calls the "fourth transformation" of Mexico. He would under no circumstances seek re-election, he said.

 

He also reiterated he would hold a recall referendum during his administration, and would leave office early if he lost.

 

Reflecting his austere manner, Lopez Obrador arrived at Congress in a modest white Volkswagen sedan with little visible security, in contrast to the lifestyles of his predecessors.

 

He has also dissolved the thousands-strong presidential guard that many Mexicans associate with a distant political class, opting instead for a small group of unarmed body guards.

 

Some have criticized the move as irresponsible.

 

In another symbol of change, the doors of what had been the official presidential residence, Los Pinos, were thrown open to public visitors on Saturday. Lopez Obrador has said he will save money by living in an apartment in the presidential palace.

 

Pena Nieto returned to Mexico from a G20 summit in Argentina on Saturday morning, on the last official flight for his Boeing Dreamliner presidential plane, which Lopez Obrador is selling.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-12-02

[pegman]

I like him already.

[rudi49jr]

4 minutes ago, pegman said:

I like him already.

Me too, but he'd better hire an army of very loyal body guards or he won't survive for long. The rich and powerful, certainly in Latin America, have a tendency to become very vindictive when someone wants to take away even the tiniest fraction of their wealth and power.

[TopDeadSenter]

8 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Members of Lopez Obrador's party applauded when he mentioned Maduro's name

The most important sentence in the whole article. Now, I'm not claiming to be Mystic Meg but in a few years time when this strict socialism has kicked in properly there will be a mass exodus of starving Mexicans up towards the United States like never seen before. Trump better get this wall built. High and fast.

 

 

[from the home of CC]

Talk is cheap from most nations politicians, but from good ol' Mexico, it's at a down right discount.

[zydeco]

Inherently, Mexico is a wonderful place. Great climate, plenty of natural resources, adjacent to a thriving economy in the US, and a choke point for land traffic to Central and South America.  I always had planned on retiring there. Thought Aguascalientes would be perfect. But in Thailand I remain.  Why? Because something has gone wrong in Mexico. Nafta #1. It enriched the elite and decimated the peasant landowners--sending the illegal tidal wave north to the US. And the population ballooned--just like elsewhere in the Americas. The country of some 53 million I remember from youth may have had its problems, but there wasn't anything like the violence and economic disparities of today. Mexico now has its overpopulation boom under control. But too many other issues remain. Those "low tax economic Zones" on the US border sound like a dressed up version of the already existing maquiladoras, which are filthy, dangerous, disease plagued factories that exploit unskilled workers. AMLO going to change it all? Doubtful. But let him try. Couldn't hurt.

[Redline]

10 hours ago, rooster59 said:

relations

 

1 hour ago, zydeco said:

Inherently, Mexico is a wonderful place. Great climate, plenty of natural resources, adjacent to a thriving economy in the US, and a choke point for land traffic to Central and South America.  I always had planned on retiring there. Thought Aguascalientes would be perfect. But in Thailand I remain.  Why? Because something has gone wrong in Mexico. Nafta #1. It enriched the elite and decimated the peasant landowners--sending the illegal tidal wave north to the US. And the population ballooned--just like elsewhere in the Americas. The country of some 53 million I remember from youth may have had its problems, but there wasn't anything like the violence and economic disparities of today. Mexico now has its overpopulation boom under control. But too many other issues remain. Those "low tax economic Zones" on the US border sound like a dressed up version of the already existing maquiladoras, which are filthy, dangerous, disease plagued factories that exploit unskilled workers. AMLO going to change it all? Doubtful. But let him try. Couldn't hurt.

I have a friend that moved there from Thailand, and he loves it.  No visa issues, beach town clean, safe and cheap. 

Edited December 2, 2018 by Redline

[zydeco]

1 minute ago, Redline said:

 

I have a friend that moved there from Thailand, and he loves it.  No visa issues, beach town clean and safe 

I still give thought to moving there. Maybe have one more move in me. If AMLO can turn things around, it might be worth it. I like most everything about Mexico, the architecture, climate, and pace of life. Enjoy dealing with most Mexicans, too. And, frankly, Spanish is a lot easier for me than Thai.

[rudi49jr]

3 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

The most important sentence in the whole article. Now, I'm not claiming to be Mystic Meg but in a few years time when this strict socialism has kicked in properly there will be a mass exodus of starving Mexicans up towards the United States like never seen before. Trump better get this wall built. High and fast.

 

 

Yeah, it's the socialists on this planet that are the problem. The eight richest people in the world own as much as the poorest half of the world's population. As long as such an obscene and shameful inequality still exists, people have every right to try to distribute that wealth a little more equally.

[riclag]

14 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Lopez Obrador repeated he was seeking to contain migration through a deal with Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to foster development in Central America and Mexico.

The USA was giving aid to C.A. depending on what sources some claim 180m others claim up to 600m. L.O. want's the USA to give aid of 20billion over 6 years to help assist in building new homes and creating jobs! 

It never never stops! Many American's are sick and tired of it. I'm sick of seeing big Gov. being the gum ball humanitarian's too economic irresponsible corrupt countries. 

https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/11/26/inenglish/1543213483_532579.html

http://time.com/5465364/mexico-house-migrants-central-america-aid/

 

 

Stick with private ventures ,it seems to be working!Also the 100m that the activist groups raise for resettling migrants in the USA should instead go to this these organizations that take care of the poor and poverty stricken, until the usual corruption sets in again!

https://www.latinfinance.com/magazine/2018/may-june-2018/investors-make-an-impact-in-central-america

 

 

Edited December 2, 2018 by riclag

[Tug]

I have gone to school in Mexico I have worked with Mexicans I have traveled all over Mexico our family used to lease a plot of land in guymas with a house (dad sold it) I have found the Mexicans to be hard working family oreantated and a bit religious pretty fine quality’s just the kind of people I want on my team.mexico has the resources land climate and hard working talented people to be successful anything that helps them in this I’m behind them 100% let’s pray for the new pres success 

[watcharacters]

24 minutes ago, Tug said:

I have gone to school in Mexico I have worked with Mexicans I have traveled all over Mexico our family used to lease a plot of land in guymas with a house (dad sold it) I have found the Mexicans to be hard working family oreantated and a bit religious pretty fine quality’s just the kind of people I want on my team.mexico has the resources land climate and hard working talented people to be successful anything that helps them in this I’m behind them 100% let’s pray for the new pres success 

 

Can foreigners own land in Mexico now?

 

 

[Trouble]

5 hours ago, rudi49jr said:

Yeah, it's the socialists on this planet that are the problem. The eight richest people in the world own as much as the poorest half of the world's population. As long as such an obscene and shameful inequality still exists, people have every right to try to distribute that wealth a little more equally.

"The eight richest people in the world own as much as the poorest half of the world's population." While I won't question your figures and on the surface it seems to be obscene and shameful, however if that wealth was redistributed to the poor, it would be gone in no time. The wealth people create is generally not generally hoarded in some bank, but used as investment that builds factories, business, etc. that create jobs. Just taking the wealth and redistributing it would not do a thing that would help people over the long haul. Unfortunately, It would end up a very short party for the poor. 

[bristolboy]

1 hour ago, watcharacters said:

 

Can foreigners own land in Mexico now?

 

 

Yes they can.

[bristolboy]

18 minutes ago, Trouble said:

"The eight richest people in the world own as much as the poorest half of the world's population." While I won't question your figures and on the surface it seems to be obscene and shameful, however if that wealth was redistributed to the poor, it would be gone in no time. The wealth people create is generally not generally hoarded in some bank, but used as investment that builds factories, business, etc. that create jobs. Just taking the wealth and redistributing it would not do a thing that would help people over the long haul. Unfortunately, It would end up a very short party for the poor. 

So not true in so many ways as the last great recession showed. Too much wealth accumulated by too few leads to excess liquidity. So money starts chasing chimerical investments. Which leads to Depressions and dangerous recessions. You should read Capital by Thomas Higgety. 

As for the poor, this condescending attitude about their fecklessness has been shown to be false. 

https://www.economist.com/international/2013/12/12/pennies-from-heaven

Edited December 2, 2018 by bristolboy

[rudi49jr]

1 hour ago, Trouble said:

"The eight richest people in the world own as much as the poorest half of the world's population." While I won't question your figures and on the surface it seems to be obscene and shameful, however if that wealth was redistributed to the poor, it would be gone in no time. The wealth people create is generally not generally hoarded in some bank, but used as investment that builds factories, business, etc. that create jobs. Just taking the wealth and redistributing it would not do a thing that would help people over the long haul. Unfortunately, It would end up a very short party for the poor. 

Just google it, plenty of sources. Here's one:

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/media/meet-the-8-men-who-are-wealthier-than-half-the-globe-davos-world-economic-forum/

 

That is not just obscene and shameful on the surface of it, like you said, but obscene and shameful, period.

And I'm not saying that every poor person should get a hundred or a thousand dollars to spend as they please, there are plenty of other ways to redistribute that vast wealth without it being squandered.

 

Edited December 2, 2018 by rudi49jr

[Tug]

I don’t think you can own land they lease it for 99 yrs

[bristolboy]

20 minutes ago, Tug said:

I don’t think you can own land they lease it for 99 yrs

Google it. Foreigners can own land.

[mikebike]

13 hours ago, Trouble said:

if that wealth was redistributed to the poor, it would be gone in no time.

I don’t think you understand economics. Where in the heck do you think the wealth would “go”?

[mikebike]

14 hours ago, Trouble said:

The wealth people create is generally not generally hoarded in some bank, but used as investment that builds factories, business, etc. that create jobs

Except for the fact that it is not. Case in point; how much of the recent tax welfare for the rich and corps found its way into investment vs stock buyback and parking in tax havens? Answer: very little. Trickle-down has NEVER worked.

[Redline]

21 hours ago, zydeco said:

I still give thought to moving there. Maybe have one more move in me. If AMLO can turn things around, it might be worth it. I like most everything about Mexico, the architecture, climate, and pace of life. Enjoy dealing with most Mexicans, too. And, frankly, Spanish is a lot easier for me than Thai.

I’m debating it myself 

[Redline]

20 hours ago, rudi49jr said:

Yeah, it's the socialists on this planet that are the problem. The eight richest people in the world own as much as the poorest half of the world's population. As long as such an obscene and shameful inequality still exists, people have every right to try to distribute that wealth a little more equally.

I guess you are not talking about the definition of socialism 

[mikebike]

1 hour ago, Redline said:

I guess you are not talking about the definition of socialism 

Very observant... He seems to be talking about income equality, not the definition of socialusm.