Mexico lower house polls show setback for ruling coalition

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s coalition set to fall short of two-thirds majority necessary for big reforms.

Mexicans have voted to curb President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s power in elections an official forecast of results showed, delivering his Morena party and allies a reduced majority that will make it more difficult to push through substantial reforms. The National Electoral Institute (INE) on Sunday estimates the ruling coalition will win between 265 and 292 of the 500 seats in the lower house, short of the two-thirds majority needed to push through amendments to the constitution. Lopez Obrador, who has promised to transform Mexico with an overhaul of politics and the economy, has toyed with constitutional changes to protect state energy companies.