Leftist forms parallel rule

MEXICO CITY – Leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador swore himself in as Mexico’s “legitimate” president Monday, launching a parallel government he hopes will prevent President-elect Felipe Calderon from governing.

The ceremony is the latest chapter in Lopez Obrador’s unsuccessful battle for the presidency. He claims fraud and dirty campaign tactics were responsible for Calderon’s narrow victory in the July 2 vote, and his parallel government could spend the next six years calling for street protests that have already dented the economy and prompted travel warnings from the U.S. Embassy.

Rosario Ibarra, a human rights activist and senator for Lopez Obrador’s coalition, placed the presidential sash across his shoulders during Monday’s ceremony. While the action lacks legal recognition, Lopez Obrador hopes to assume the moral leadership of millions of poor Mexicans.

“I pledge … to serve loyally and patriotically as legitimate president of Mexico,” Lopez Obrador said. “I pledge to protect the rights of Mexicans and to defend Mexico’s sovereignty and patrimony, and ensure the happiness and welfare of the people.”

Speaking in front of about 100,000 supporters, he vowed to draw up a new constitution to oppose the building of U.S. border fences and limit the power of big corporations, the media and the “neo-fascist oligarchy” he claimed had taken over the government.

Based in Mexico City, Lopez Obrador’s parallel government has its own Cabinet, but it will not collect taxes or make laws and will rely on donations to carry out its plans.

Lopez Obrador said he plans to spend three days a week in Mexico City and spend the other four days touring Mexico “to create the most important citizens’ organization in all our history.” But his movement’s first action will be to try to prevent Calderon’s Dec. 1 inauguration ceremony.

“We are going to make Calderon realize at all times that he is an illegitimate leader,” said 55-year-old Lopez Obrador supporter Beatriz Zuniga, an unemployed professor of Latin American studies. “He’s got a limited amount of time. This man will not finish his term.”