Mexico holds referendum on whether to investigate ex-presidents

Amid expectations of low turnout, critics slam vote promoted by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as unnecessary.

Mexicans have begun voting in a referendum promoted by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on whether to investigate former presidents for alleged corruption, but experts have criticised the vote as a political stunt. Lopez Obrador, widely known as AMLO, has cast past administrations as deeply corrupt and made combatting the practice his top priority. But critics have said the Mexican president hopes to use the consultation to energise his base, and that it is unlikely to muster enough votes to be valid. To be binding, 37.4 million people – 40 percent of the electoral roll – must participate.