Candidates spar in Mexico’s presidential debate ahead of June 2 election

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MEXICO CITY, April 8, (AP): In Mexico’s first presidential debate on Sunday ahead of June 2 elections, former Mexico City Mayor and frontrunner Claudia Sheinbaum appeared comfortable with her polling lead, remaining calm amid ex-Senator Xóchitl Gálvez’s personal attacks.
Jorge Álvarez Máynez, a candidate from the Citizen Movement party who is polling in single digits, grinned widely and presented himself as an alternative to the other two candidates, who he said represented the “old politics.”
In the debate, candidates responded to questions about health, education, corruption, transparency, vulnerable groups and violence against women.
Polls have shown Sheinbaum of the Morena party of outgoing leftist President Andrés Manuel López Obrador leading by more than 20 points over Gálvez, who represents a coalition of opposition parties. If Sheinbaum or Gálvez wins, they would become the first woman president in Mexico, a country with a reputation for gender-based violence and a “macho,” male-dominated culture.
Sheinbaum emphasized her connection with the highly popular López Obrador and promised she would continue his policies.
“We’re going to keep transforming Mexico,” Sheinbaum said.
Meanwhile, Gálvez launched personal attacks against her competition, including at Sheinbaum.
“Claudia, even if you deny it, you are still cold and heartless. I would call you the ice lady,” Gálvez said.
“Claudia, you’re not AMLO. You don’t have his charisma,” she said, using the president’s nickname. Sheinbaum did not respond to several of Gálvez’s sharpest attacks.

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