Mexico court sides with Calderon

MEXICO CITY -- Felipe Calderon was declared president-electTuesday after two months of uncertainty, but his ability to ruleeffectively remained in doubt with rival Andres Manuel Lopez Obradorvowing to lead a parallel leftist government from the streets.

The unanimous decision by the Federal Electoral Tribunal rejectedallegations of systematic fraud and awarded Calderon the presidencyby 233,831 votes out of 41.6 million cast in the July 2 elections --a margin of 0.56 percent. The ruling cannot be appealed.

Calderon now must win over millions of Mexicans angry thatPresident Vicente Fox, who is from Calderon's party, didn't make goodon promises of sweeping change -- and fend off thousands ofradicalized leftists who say they will stop at nothing to underminehis presidency.

Lopez Obrador, whose support is dwindling but becoming moreradical, has said he won't recognize the new government and vows toblock Calderon from taking power Dec. 1. Protesters outside thetribunal wept as the decision was announced and set off firecrackersthat shook the building.

"We aren't going to let him govern!" Thomas Jimenez, a 30-year-old law student, screamed as hundreds of protesters threw eggs andtrash at the courthouse.

The decision by the seven judges -- who have split their votes indisputes about other elections -- also found that Fox endangered theelection by making statements that favored Calderon, and thatbusiness leaders broke the law by paying for ads against LopezObrador, who promised to govern on behalf of the poor.

But the problems weren't serious enough to annul the results, theysaid. "There are no perfect elections," Judge Alfonsina Berta NavarroHidalgo said.

The court rejected most of Lopez Obrador's allegations, includinghis claim that an ad campaign comparing him to Venezuelan PresidentHugo Chavez unfairly swayed voters. The court also dismissed LopezObrador's claim of subliminal messages in television ads by pro-Calderon businesses.

The court's president, Leonel Castillo, called on Mexicans tounite and mend the deep divisions the election revealed.

"I hope we conclude this electoral process leaving confrontationbehind," he said.

A smiling Calderon emerged from party offices to wave atsupporters. He was scheduled to address the nation later Tuesday andmeet with Fox on Wednesday. today.

Calderon, a 44-year-old former energy secretary and careerpolitician, promised during the campaign to create jobs and keep theeconomy growing, and since the election he has adopted some of LopezObrador's ideas on how to help Mexico's poor majority.

Fox greeted the court's decision with a smile during an appearancein Cancun, then publicly congratulated Calderon and invited LopezObrador to begin talks aimed at "strengthening the nation and ourdemocracy."

Markets, which had expected Tuesday's ruling, were unchanged.World leaders, including Japan's prime minister and several CentralAmerican presidents, congratulated Calderon on his victory.

The White House, in a statement, congratulated the people ofMexico on the certification of a "free and fair electoral process."

"We congratulate Felipe Calderon on his victory and look forwardto working with him and his team," the statement said, adding thatthe United States expects its relationship with Mexico to continue tobe productive for both countries.

Tuesday's ruling came two months, three days, and tens ofthousands of pages of legal challenges after voters cast theirballots. In comparison, the U.S. presidential election of 2000remained in dispute for only 35 days.

The decision was unlikely to end the demonstrations that havecrippled Mexico City's center or to heal the nation's growingpolitical divide.

In the Zocalo plaza, thousands in a month-old protest campchanted: "If there is no solution, there will be revolution!"

"Taking up arms is the only way," said Angel Sinsun, 80. "They'llnever give us power with peaceful resistance or with negotiations."

Lopez Obrador has called on his followers to remain peaceful. Hismovement has become increasingly radicalized since the election, andpolls indicate he lost support after lawmakers from his party blockedFox's last state-of-the-nation address on Friday.

On Tuesday, the Convergencia party -- one of three that nominatedLopez Obrador for the presidency -- left the electoral alliance,saying "it is time to rethink strategies."

Lopez Obrador adviser Manuel Camacho told The Associated Pressthat the court's recommendation "does not take into account what isactually happening in the country."

"The court is going to be questioned seriously about itsdecision," he said, adding: "We have the responsibility to conductourselves peacefully."

No violence was reported, but police surrounded the headquartersof Calderon's National Action Party, where businesswoman SusannaRivera was among a few drivers honking in support of the conservativeformer energy secretary.

"It's marvelous. It's perfect," she said of the court's decision."We are happy because he is a decent, educated person." She saidLopez Obrador's supporters would never accept Calderon because "theyare a bunch of crazies."

Neither candidate attended the court session. Lopez Obrador atebreakfast with lawmakers, then went to his protest tent in the Zocaloplaza, where he has been sleeping for nearly two months.

Supporters greeted him with calls of "You are not alone!"

Contributing: Istra Pacheco, E. Eduardo Castillo, Mark Stevenson

Mexico court sides with Calderon

MEXICO CITY -- Felipe Calderon was declared president-electTuesday after two months of uncertainty, but his ability to ruleeffectively remained in doubt with rival Andres Manuel Lopez Obradorvowing to lead a parallel leftist government from the streets.

The unanimous decision by the Federal Electoral Tribunal rejectedallegations of systematic fraud and awarded Calderon the presidencyby 233,831 votes out of 41.6 million cast in the July 2 elections --a margin of 0.56 percent. The ruling cannot be appealed.

Calderon now must win over millions of Mexicans angry thatPresident Vicente Fox, who is from Calderon's party, didn't make goodon promises of sweeping change -- and fend off thousands ofradicalized leftists who say they will stop at nothing to underminehis presidency.

Lopez Obrador, whose support is dwindling but becoming moreradical, has said he won't recognize the new government and vows toblock Calderon from taking power Dec. 1. Protesters outside thetribunal wept as the decision was announced and set off firecrackersthat shook the building.

"We aren't going to let him govern!" Thomas Jimenez, a 30-year-old law student, screamed as hundreds of protesters threw eggs andtrash at the courthouse.

The decision by the seven judges -- who have split their votes indisputes about other elections -- also found that Fox endangered theelection by making statements that favored Calderon, and thatbusiness leaders broke the law by paying for ads against LopezObrador, who promised to govern on behalf of the poor.

But the problems weren't serious enough to annul the results, theysaid. "There are no perfect elections," Judge Alfonsina Berta NavarroHidalgo said.

The court rejected most of Lopez Obrador's allegations, includinghis claim that an ad campaign comparing him to Venezuelan PresidentHugo Chavez unfairly swayed voters. The court also dismissed LopezObrador's claim of subliminal messages in television ads by pro-Calderon businesses.

The court's president, Leonel Castillo, called on Mexicans tounite and mend the deep divisions the election revealed.

"I hope we conclude this electoral process leaving confrontationbehind," he said.

A smiling Calderon emerged from party offices to wave atsupporters. He was scheduled to address the nation later Tuesday andmeet with Fox on Wednesday. today.

Calderon, a 44-year-old former energy secretary and careerpolitician, promised during the campaign to create jobs and keep theeconomy growing, and since the election he has adopted some of LopezObrador's ideas on how to help Mexico's poor majority.

Fox greeted the court's decision with a smile during an appearancein Cancun, then publicly congratulated Calderon and invited LopezObrador to begin talks aimed at "strengthening the nation and ourdemocracy."

Markets, which had expected Tuesday's ruling, were unchanged.World leaders, including Japan's prime minister and several CentralAmerican presidents, congratulated Calderon on his victory.

The White House, in a statement, congratulated the people ofMexico on the certification of a "free and fair electoral process."

"We congratulate Felipe Calderon on his victory and look forwardto working with him and his team," the statement said, adding thatthe United States expects its relationship with Mexico to continue tobe productive for both countries.

Tuesday's ruling came two months, three days, and tens ofthousands of pages of legal challenges after voters cast theirballots. In comparison, the U.S. presidential election of 2000remained in dispute for only 35 days.

The decision was unlikely to end the demonstrations that havecrippled Mexico City's center or to heal the nation's growingpolitical divide.

In the Zocalo plaza, thousands in a month-old protest campchanted: "If there is no solution, there will be revolution!"

"Taking up arms is the only way," said Angel Sinsun, 80. "They'llnever give us power with peaceful resistance or with negotiations."

Lopez Obrador has called on his followers to remain peaceful. Hismovement has become increasingly radicalized since the election, andpolls indicate he lost support after lawmakers from his party blockedFox's last state-of-the-nation address on Friday.

On Tuesday, the Convergencia party -- one of three that nominatedLopez Obrador for the presidency -- left the electoral alliance,saying "it is time to rethink strategies."

Lopez Obrador adviser Manuel Camacho told The Associated Pressthat the court's recommendation "does not take into account what isactually happening in the country."

"The court is going to be questioned seriously about itsdecision," he said, adding: "We have the responsibility to conductourselves peacefully."

No violence was reported, but police surrounded the headquartersof Calderon's National Action Party, where businesswoman SusannaRivera was among a few drivers honking in support of the conservativeformer energy secretary.

"It's marvelous. It's perfect," she said of the court's decision."We are happy because he is a decent, educated person." She saidLopez Obrador's supporters would never accept Calderon because "theyare a bunch of crazies."

Neither candidate attended the court session. Lopez Obrador atebreakfast with lawmakers, then went to his protest tent in the Zocaloplaza, where he has been sleeping for nearly two months.

Supporters greeted him with calls of "You are not alone!"

Contributing: Istra Pacheco, E. Eduardo Castillo, Mark Stevenson