Mexico president reaches midterm with high approval rating

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is holding a massive rally in Mexico City to mark the mid-way point in his six-year term, amid polls showing about two-thirds of Mexicans approve of his administration

MEXICO CITY -- Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador held a massive rally in Mexico City Wednesday to mark the midway point in his six-year term with polls showing that about two-thirds of Mexicans approve of the job he is doing.

López Obrador’s masterful use of televised news briefings, his folksy style and personal austerity have apparently won over Mexicans, despite any number of indicators suggesting the country isn’t doing so well.

Mexico is approaching 450,000 COVID-19 deaths, has inflation of around 7% and an almost unabated wave of drug gang homicides. But with no mask requirements — a hallmark of his administration, which has eschewed mass testing and travel bans — on Wednesday the president did what he loves best: bask in crowds of cheering supporters.

Bands played for thousands of supporters packed into the plaza. Most had facemasks but were crowded shoulder to shoulder, and a significant number appeared to be government employees.