Tepatepec (Mexico) (AFP) – In the rural Mexican town where opposition presidential candidate Xochitl Gálvez grew up, the smiling face of her rival from the ruling party peeks out from posters on the street.
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“No man is a prophet in his own land,” as the saying goes, and Gálvez of Tepatepec is no exception. Not everyone is moved by her rags-to-riches story.
It's been decades since the 61-year-old senator of Native American descent and self-made businesswoman moved to study computer engineering.
At the time, her home state of Hidalgo in the central region was in poverty.
Galvez now lives in Mexico City and is known for wearing indigenous clothing, speaking colloquialism, and traveling by bicycle.
In Tepatepec, the image of the opposing front-runner, Claudia Sheinbaum, is commonly seen on posters, reflecting the strong support the ruling Morena party has across Mexico.
Far from being proud of her, some townsfolk are skeptical of Galvez's childhood stories, which include selling candy to help support her family.
“She says she had a tough upbringing but that's not true, it wasn't like that,” housewife Felice Manso told AFP.
“There are a lot of people around here who know her and hope she doesn't become president,” the 76-year-old said at a tortilla shop on the outskirts of town.
'hard working'
In contrast, Ruben Angeles Santiago, a neighbor and friend of the Galvez family, believes she is the best person to lead Mexico.
“She is an honest, hardworking, forthright and well-prepared woman,” the 65-year-old veterinarian said.
Santiago noted that this contrasts with the recent national peasant rallies, in which many supported Galvez.
“But not here,” he said.
After leaving Tepatepec, Gálvez studied at the prestigious National Autonomous University of Mexico and founded a successful technology company.
In 2000, conservative President Vicente Fox entrusted her with policy for indigenous peoples.
Now the opposition candidate is hoping to become Mexico's first female president after the June 2 election, but she is trailing far behind Scheinbaum in opinion polls.
According to an average of polls compiled by Oraculous, Scheinbaum has the support of 55 percent of voters, compared with Galvez's 33 percent.
Galvez, who previously headed a foundation that supports indigenous children and women, has spoken openly about family issues, including an alcoholic father.
Tepatepec's friends and relatives said she would return home bringing toys for children during important festivals.
Social Programme
Located in the Mezquital Valley, agriculture is the main source of income in Tepatepec, and many of its 11,000 residents spend lazy afternoons avoiding the scorching sun.
Manso expressed regret that President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will step down after just one term, the longest allowed by the constitution.
She is grateful for her pension, which is about $77 a month.
Unlike Manso, plumber Jose Luis Ramirez considers Galvez “the best option,” though he acknowledges that she is “not very popular” locally.
“The problem is that people believe everything they hear and don't think critically,” said the 48-year-old, who divides his time between Tepatepec and Mexico City.
“They will vote for Morena because of the huge amounts of money it gives them,” Ramirez added.
Lopez Obrador's social welfare programs received a lot of attention during the election debate.
Galvez's supporters accuse him of wanting to cut the subsidies, even though he voted in favor of them when he was a senator.
At the start of her campaign, she pledged to uphold that cause, signing a pledge with her own fingerprints in blood.
Santiago said he knows people who plan to vote for Galvez but are staying silent because they fear their pensions will be taken away.
He believes her popularity in Tepatepec has increased since the presidential debates were broadcast on television.
“I used to be sure Scheinbaum would win. Now I'm not so sure,” he said.
© 2024 AFP
