Old-style government practices seen in Mexican recall vote

Analysts in Mexico say President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's recall vote could, paradoxically,  leave Mexico's democracy weaker

MEXICO CITY -- Analysts in Mexico said Monday that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s successful push to hold the weekend's recall vote could, paradoxically, leave Mexico’s democracy weaker.

López Obrador declared Sunday's referendum, in which he was strongly supported by the few Mexicans voters who participated, as “a complete success” and “a historic event.”

He described the vote as a victory for “participative democracy,” noting Mexicans had never before been allowed to vote on whether a president should be recalled from office.

But his Morena party used illegal, old-style electioneering tactics to get out the vote for what was a largely symbolic vote.