Mexico's small Citizen's Movement party nominates congressman for president

Mexico’s small Citizen’s Movement party has nominated a youthful, little-known congressman to run for president in the June 2 elections _ a campaign that so far has been dominated by two women

MEXICO CITY -- Mexico’s small Citizen’s Movement party on Wednesday nominated a youthful, little-known congressman to run for president in the June 2 election campaign that has been dominated by two women.

The party announced that its candidate will be Rep. Jorge Álvarez Máynez, 38, who takes up the mantle from a Citizen's Movement candidate who dropped out in December. He will face front-runner Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling Morena party, and opposition coalition candidate Xochitl Gálvez.

Sheinbaum leads and Gálvez takes second place in most polls on the race, practically ensuring that the country will see its first female president in 2024.

While Álvarez Máynez is seen as having little chance of winning, his candidacy could help preserve his party’s access to government funding. In Mexico, parties must win at least 2% of votes in federal elections to preserve their registration; registered parties receive most of their campaign funding from the government.

Short on specific proposals, and dogged by criticism that the Citizen’s Movement is subservient to the ruling Morena party, the party's campaign has prominently featured the color orange — particularly orange sneakers — and a singing indigenous boy (now young man) named Yuawi López who has appeared in campaign ads.