Political earthquake as leftist Lopez Obrador wins Mexico’s presidential election in a landslide

Furious at spiralling corruption and violence, Mexican voters unleashed a political earthquake Sunday by electing a leftist firebrand and giving him a broad mandate to overthrow the political establishment and govern for the poor.

A late-night official quick count from electoral authorities forecast that Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador would win with between 53 per cent and 53.8 per cent of the vote, a remarkable margin not seen in the country for many years. His nearest rivals conceded even before official results were released by the National Electoral Institute. And a prominent exit poll predicted that his party allies were poised to score huge wins in the Senate and lower house, possibly absolute majorities in both.

Lopez Obrador, who vowed to transform Mexico and oust the “mafia of power” ruling the country, rode widespread voter anger and discontent with the governing Institutional Revolution Party, or PRI, of President Enrique Pena Nieto and had led opinion polls since the beginning of the campaign.

In brief remarks at a hotel in central Mexico City, Lopez Obrador called for reconciliation after a polarising campaign and promised profound change that respects the law and constitutional order.

“I confess that I have a legitimate ambition: I want to go down in history as a good president of Mexico,” said Lopez Obrador, who won after losses in the previous two elections. “I desire with all my soul to raise the greatness of our country on high.”