Fox facing opposition in Mexico address
By TRACI CARL, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 44 minutes ago



MEXICO CITY - Congress was surrounded by police, soldiers and towering concrete and metal barriers Thursday in advance of President Vicente Fox's state-of-the-nation address, which is shaping up to be a major showdown with protesters demanding a recount of the July 2 election results.

Fox's speech Friday could be the catalyst that turns the dispute over the election into a bloody rebellion, as activists vow to keep the Mexican leader from reaching Congress to deliver the last annual address of his six-year term.

Some lawmakers have suggested Fox give the speech over a video link to avoid violent confrontation. Others have said he should hand over his annual report as specified in the constitution, then leave without giving a speech.

Fox says he'll deliver the address no matter what.

Thousands of supporters of leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, already camped out on Mexico City's elegant Reforma Avenue and main Zocalo plaza in mostly peaceful protests, have promised to block streets and take other actions to stop the president.

"Security teams better not touch a hair on the heads of our comrades and fellow lawmakers," warned Gerardo Fernandez, a spokesman for Lopez Obrador's Democratic Revolution Party.

Ruling National Action Party lawmakers countered that they'll take action if anyone tries to attack the president.

Mexico's highest electoral court has yet to resolve who will replace Fox when he steps down on Dec. 1, having served his constitutionally mandated single term.

A court-ordered partial recount of the July 2 race reduced ruling-party candidate Felipe Calderon's advantage to 240,000 votes, but Lopez Obrador still claims electoral fraud and dirty tactics by Fox robbed him of victory. The Federal Electoral Court has until Wednesday to declare a president-elect or annul the election.

But the court's rulings so far have favored Calderon, and Lopez Obrador and his supporters have already said they won't recognize its decision.

"Fox is going to go to Congress and tell the country that there aren't any problems, when the entire city center is being occupied! That just seems like a joke to us," said Guillermo Monroy, a 40-year-old lawyer at one of the protest camps.

The allegations of electoral fraud and protests are a far cry from the optimism and enthusiasm that followed Fox's surprise victory six years ago, which ended 71 years of one-party rule and prompted the world to declare Mexico a full democracy.

Monroy didn't vote for Fox, but was among the millions who expected sweeping change from the former Coca-Cola executive and rancher. Fox promised to build a nation that would rival the success of its northern neighbor, the United States.

Today, Monroy still wants change — and he's ready to force the issue because he has lost faith in the government.

"We believe we can still change the country so that the rich don't rule, and we will fight until they force us to stop," he said.

Lopez Obrador's campaign on behalf of the poor exposed centuries-old class and racial divisions. The former Mexico City mayor has promised government subsidies and other benefits for Mexico's most marginalized citizens. The nation's growing middle class and ruling elite have largely backed Calderon, a fiscal conservative.

If he can't carry out his agenda as Mexico's president, Lopez Obrador has said he will create a parallel government and rule from the streets. He's hoping millions will refuse to recognize Calderon and answer only to him, possibly even channeling their taxes to him instead of the government to fund his operations.

Fox, who prides himself on staying out of conflicts, has refused to intervene, saying the protesters have a right to free speech. That has drawn criticism from some who say Fox's failure to take action in the growing conflict could lead to a full-blown rebellion.

The city, still run by Lopez Obrador's party, has provided police protection for the camps, along with municipal electricity, water and other services — to the chagrin of many residents.

Lopez Obrador has been invited by his party to the state-of-the-nation address, but it was unclear whether he would attend. Calderon has already said he won't be there.

Fox spokesman Ruben Aguilar said this week that Fox's speech will focus on promoting the government institutions created to handle things like electoral disputes, in addition to touting Mexico's economic growth and building boom, fueled in part by lower interest rates that have made credit readily available.

"Unfortunately, there are a lot of people in this country who dream of living in the past, living with the privileges handed out by an authoritarian regime that doesn't care about anyone and that governs for only one person," Aguilar said.

Fox, scheduled to step down Dec. 1, says he has no regrets.

"I'm leaving satisfied," he told The Associated Press this month in an interview.

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