Official registration of "El Bronco" as presidential candidate sparks polarizing reactions

The decision of Mexico's Electoral Court of the Judicial Branch of the Federation (TEPJF) of ruling in favor of Jaime Rodríguez Calderón , known as “El Bronco,” and ordering the National Electoral Institute (INE) to register him as an official independent presidential candidate, has sparked polarizing reactions.

The chief magistrate of the TEPJF, Janine Madeline Otálora , stated the “end shouldn't justify the means.”

“We cannot allow those aspiring to a candidacy, to a public office, to start with actions that make us question their ethics and their commitment to democracy,” said Otálora.

For her part, presidential candidate Margarita Zavala qualified Rodríguez as the “candidate of the Electoral Court” and claimed she was the only independent candidate in the contest.

In Zacatecas, front-runner Andrés Manuel López Obrador described the decision of the Electoral Court as “controversial” and going against the transparency that should prevail during election times.

Moreover, he also asked the Court to give an opportunity to other independent candidates such as María de Jesús “Marichuy” Patricio Martínez .

“I think they should give the opportunity to participate to all so we can comply with the constitutional right of Mexican citizens having the right to vote and be voted for. There are others who were unable to gather the signatures, especially Mrs. 'Marichuy', who represents indigenous women. They should take all this into consideration and exclude no one,” he said during an interview with the media.

Meanwhile, Ricardo Anaya Cortés stated he doesn't see the ruling as either detrimental or favorable to any other candidacy, and while he was “surprised” by the decision of the Electoral Court, he said the decision was final.

José Antonio Meade Kuribeña

said one will not always agree with the decisions of the Court, but that he respects it and welcomes Rodríguez to the contest.

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