Oye, Trump

From the firebrand candidate currently leading in the race for next July's Mexican presidential election, a no-holds-barred condemnation of corruption in his country and a sharp critique of the influence of the United States south of the Rio Grande, especially under the Trump administration.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) is a firebrand, left-wing Mexican politician who, having participated in the 2006 and 2012 presidential elections, is running once again in 2018. Current opinion polls give him a substantial lead, a development, it seems likely, related to the reaction of many Mexicans to the recent election of another presidential candidate, this one to the north of the Rio Grande, in the United States of America.

In these pages AMLO presents a no-holds-barred condemnation of corruption in the Mexican political sphere and a sharp critique of what he regards as the baleful influence of the United States in Mexican politics, especially under the Trump presidency. Setting out a program that counters the neo-liberal politics that have dominated Mexico for decades, Lopez Obrador calls on his country to make a break from a long-ingrained tradition of deference to US interests.

Things may change between now and the election in July next year. But as matters now stand, Mexico appears more likely to elect a radical populist head of state than at any time in its recent history. The implications of this for its people, and for the United States, are substantial, making Oye, Trump essential reading for anyone interested in global politics.