MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Thousands of demonstrators protested in Mexico City yesterday against opposition presidential candidate Enrique Pena Nieto, who is far ahead in polls and poised to lead the party that ruled Mexico for much of the 20th century back to power.
A contingent of mainly students, accompanied by groups of unionized workers and peasant farmers, held banners lambasting the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, and its candidate, Pena Nieto.
“I have a brain, I won’t vote for the PRI,” one banner read.
Demonstrators also held signs accusing Pena Nieto of being unfairly favoured by television companies and of having been corrupt and repressive as governor of Mexico State, a post he held from 2005 until 2011.
“I am not with any party, but I am sick of so much corruption,” said Eduardo Nolasco, a 22-year-old student.
“We are fed up of so many lies and of the hypocrisy of Pena Nieto and the media,” added Isabel Leyva, a 53 year-old house wife who was accompanied by her daughter, a student.
Police said there were more than 40,000 protesters at the demonstration.
Pena Nieto’s campaign team have vigorously denied accusations of corruption and say they have had no favoritism from TV media in the run-up to the July 1 election.
A telegenic 45-year old with a soap opera star wife, the PRI candidate also argues that his party has changed dramatically in the last decade.
