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Mexico City – Leftist candidate Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador is the big favorite in Mexico's presidential elections, marked by the death on Sunday of two militants shot dead, adding to the hundred or so casualties recorded during the campaign.
" This is a historic day " the leftist veteran, nicknamed " AMLO ", was sent to the press, his initials before voting in Mexico City.
" We will succeed this transformation without violence, in a peaceful way " and " banish from the country corruption, the main problem of Mexico ", promised the one that has already failed twice in the election, and who committed to hunt " the mafia of power ".
The coalition led by Lopez Obrador appeared to be on track for a large victory, winning at least five governorships out of nine.
His party was in the lead in the Veracruz, Morelos Chiapas, Tabasco as well as in the capital where the victory of Claudia Sheinbaum, a faithful of AMLO, was announced, according to polls of exit of urn.
This 56-year-old scientist became the first woman elected governor of Mexico City.
In three other states, the results were tighter and did not allow a winner to be announced, according to the pollsters.
At 64, Lopez Obrador wants to capitalize on the general exasperation and presents himself as the anti-system candidate who will chase " the mafia of power " after the mandate of the unpopular Enrique Peña Nieto.
In the polls, he is credited with more than 20 points ahead of the candidates of the traditional parties.
– Two new murders –
The election campaign is already considered " the bloodiest " in the history of Mexico, with at least 145 murders of politicians – including 48 candidates or pre-candidates – according to Etellekt research firm.
On Sunday, when some 89 million Mexican voters were called to the polls, two activists were shot dead.
Flora Resendiz Gonzalez, Workers' Party (PT, opposition) was shot dead near her home in the state of Michoacan (west), shortly before the opening of the polls for the Mexican elections.
Fernando Herrera Silva, of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), was later killed in Acolihuia, Puebla (central).
" We demand that the state guarantee the security of the electoral process ," the PRI said in a statement.
" AMLO " seems best placed to capitalize on the exasperation of Mexicans in the face of the never-ending increase in criminal violence and he promises to fight against the poverty that swells the ranks of cartels.
" For the first time, History will be written on the side of the poor ," 82-year-old Salvador Sanchez told AFP in front of the candidate's polling station.
Behind " AMLO ", the young conservative Ricardo Anaya, 39, praises his " modernity " at the head of a coalition of right and left (formed by the PAN, PRD and Movimiento Ciudadano), pledging to develop intelligence to fight against criminal groups.
He precedes Jose Antonio Meade, of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI, right), an independent four-time minister, chosen by the ruling party, ranked only third because of the image of corruption and patronage of this party.
– 18,000 renewed mandates –
In addition to the presidential mandate, the 89 million Mexican voters are renewing more than 18,000 mandates, including seats for 500 MPs and 128 senators, as well as numerous regional or local posts.
The first official results are expected around 0400 GMT Monday, a few hours before a highly anticipated match of the round of 16 of the World Cup, where Mexico will face Brazil, enough to divert the attention of the population.
However, if the forecasts are confirmed, the elections will mark a turning point in the political life of Mexico, with a left-wing president for the first time in his modern history.
AMLO, former mayor of Mexico City (2000-2005), proposes a " austere government, without luxury or privilege ", which will reduce by 50% the salaries of senior officials, including his own , and promises to transform into a cultural center the presidential residence of Los Pinos, " haunted " according to him by the turpitudes of the previous presidents.
Many Mexicans and badysts criticize his lack of concrete proposals and his rhetoric " Populist ", fearing that it would drag the country on the way to Venezuela.
Assuring Trump " is anxious to meet ", US National Security Adviser John Bolton told Fox News that " a meeting between the two leaders can give amazing results ".
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