Mexican presidential candidates offer few details on how to address country's violence problem in final debate | World News

MEXICO CITY — With less than two weeks until national elections, opposition presidential candidate Xocitl Gálvez took on one of Mexico's most stubborn challenges in his final debate with ruling party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum on Sunday night. He harshly criticized security.

Mr. Sheinbaum, a front-runner in the race, defended the security record of his mentor, outgoing President Andres Manuel López Obrador, while Mr. Gálvez said his administration was befriending the country's powerful drug cartels. accused of being

“What was this administration's strategy? Surrender this country to organized crime,” said Galvez, a former senator and technology entrepreneur.

But Sheinbaum, a former Mexico City mayor and climate scientist, did not take the bait from Gálvez's attacks and maintained the conservative strategy he had adopted in the past two debates.

Gálvez promised to maintain and strengthen the National Guard, which López Obrador created, as well as strengthen state and local police forces.

“The hugs for criminals are over,” she said, referring to President López Obrador's oft-repeated slogan, “hugs, not bullets.”

She also pledged to personally lead a meeting of the National Search Committee to help search for 100,000 Mexicans listed as missing.

Both candidates said they would rely heavily on the National Guard and continue to expand the force. One potential difference, Galvez said, is that he wants it to be under civilian leadership.

Mr. Sheinbaum pledged to continue Mr. López Obrador's efforts to address social ills that he claims are fueling the recruitment of cartels.

“The drug war continued until President Andres Manuel López Obrador arrived and changed course from declaring war to building peace,” said Sheinbaum.

Mr. Sheinbaum had not had any major setbacks, and Mr. Galvez seemed unlikely to break into the comfortable lead that Mr. Sheinbaum has held in the polls in recent months.

Jorge Álvarez Maínez, leader of a small civic movement party, continued to focus on the country's young people, repeating his promise of a five-day work week and increased capacity at public universities.

She is trailing Sheinbaum and Galvez, who are vying to become Mexico's first female president in the June 2 election.

Mexico is extremely polarized ahead of the presidential election on June 2nd. López Obrador regularly criticizes reporters, the middle class, businessmen and people he calls “individualists” and social climbers.

Early Sunday morning, tens of thousands of mostly opposition supporters protested against the president in the colonial capital's vast main square.

Demonstrators held signs that read “We are Mexicans,” referring to López Obrador's attempts to divide the country.

The protest was originally called in defense of independent electoral bodies, which the president wants to defund or abolish. However, many protesters held banners supporting Mr. Galvez.

Mexican presidential terms are limited to six years.

Joel Guerra, 59, of Mexico City, was holding a placard that read “Take Back Mexico.”

“The president is saying that the only 'good people' in Mexico are his supporters, and the rest of us have no rights,” Guerra said. “We are humans too.”

Mr. Guerra was particularly concerned about a new law passed by Mr. López Obrador that would seize unclaimed personal pension accounts and distribute them to other retirees.

“Unfortunately, the people who are currently governing us are completely dividing the country,” said businesswoman Alana Leal. “There are two groups of Mexicans and it's unfair. It creates so much hatred because at the end of the day we're all in the same boat and working for the progress of our country.” That's not fair.”

López Obrador frequently attacks those who disagree with him as “racists, classists and conservatives.” He also supports state-owned enterprises and government benefit programs and derides the accumulation of personal wealth.

Mr. Sheinbaum has promised to try to reconcile the Mexican people if he wins, but Mr. Real said he doubts he will do so.

“I think it will be very difficult to reconcile the two groups,” he said, adding, “It's very unfortunate.”

This article was generated from the Automata news agency feed without any modifications to the text.