Felipe Calderon has been declared president elect of Mexico after a bruising battle that went up to the country's highest electoral court. That tribunal today ruled that the July 2nd vote had been free and fair, and upheld Calderon's razor-thin win. Their decision is final and cannot be appealed but that doesn't mean that Mexico's troubles are over.
After months of protests, claims and counterclaims and legal maneuverings, Mexico's presidential elections came down to the votes of seven judges of the Federal Electoral Tribunal. In the lengthy resolution that was read aloud, the court painstakingly went through all the legal challenges brought forth by Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and struck them down one by one.
Judge after judge reiterated their faith in the electoral system, and said that although the election was imperfect, it was to be upheld.
Outside the tribunal, hundreds of Lopez Obrador supporters cried out in rage when the decision was made final.
Their leader, Lopez Obrador, is calling for continued protests and says he will set up an alternative government. His party is vowing to block Calderon's inauguration in Congress.
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