Head of Mexico's governing party cites middle class failings

The leader of Mexico's governing party says the group suffered setbacks in the capital in last weekend's elections because it has lost touch with the middle class

MEXICO CITY -- The leader of Mexico’s governing party said Friday that the group suffered setbacks in the capital in last weekend's elections because it has lost touch with the middle class. Mexico City was once an unquestionable stronghold for President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, but in Sunday’s mid-term elections his Morena party lost in nine of the city’s 16 boroughs. The opposition won the entire, wealthier west side of the city, while Morena took all of the poorer east side, sparking a flurry of memes on the internet showing the capital divided by a Berlin-style wall running down the middle. López Obrador blamed the results on what he calls a “dirty war” by traditional media against his administration. He claimed Mexico City residents were more influenced by the media than voters in other parts of the country, where Morena did well, winning 11 of the 15 governorships at stake. It lost seats in congress, though it still controls the lower house with help from allied parties.