Artículo Sobre el Programa de AMLO

Mexico's 'Legitimate President' Has Own TV Show

[Opinion] Obrador attacks Calderon in early hours broadcast

By Erich Moncada

Mexico City -- In the early hours of last Tuesday, former presidential candidate and self-proclaimed "legitimate president" of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO), started his brand new TV show, called "Let the Truth Be Told."

The main purpose of this weekly, half-hour long, late night program directed by filmmaker Luis Mandoki, is to "overcome the media blockade" against the left by several mainstream media companies. The show will be transmitted on the national TV Azteca network all year long, and has a price tag of US$1 million, according to Obrador sources. Funding will come from supporters' contributions.

Its long awaited debut experienced several worrying setbacks. In more than 12 states the show was not broadcast and in some cases it was canceled. The Interior Ministry declared this was caused by "technical difficulties” of TV Azteca. In my opinion this statement wasn't very convincing at all.

AMLO Strikes Back

"Let The Truth Be Told" was anchored by actress Dolores Heredia, who introduced a reflexive Obrador sitting in his office -- in the background a Mexican flag and a picture of President Benito Juarez, a legendary historical figure.

His first subject was to complain about the lack of democracy in the country because of the program's inappropriate schedule from 1:00 to 1:30 in the morning; but he applauded TV Azteca's courage in selling him the space.

Then he referred to his activities, the process of organizing a vast network of supporters in each and all of Mexico's 2,500 municipalities to counterweight Felipe Calderon's rightist government initiatives.

The "legitimate president" called Calderon a "chocolate soldier" for his recent photo-ops dressed as an army soldier to support recent unsuccessful military operations against drug cartels.

He said that he staunchly opposed the use of army and police forces to repress social movements, and cited the widespread violence in Oaxaca on Nov. 25. He alleged that this unnecessary bloodshed was "to protect a corrupt, authoritarian and tyrant governor" referring to Ulises Ruiz.

Finally he told the audience that he had won the presidential election and called Felipe Calderon a "puppet of the powerful."

"We are never going to accept an authority originating from vote fraud... the Right dehumanize everything...they will not take from us the right to have hope," concluded Obrador.

The last segment was hilarious, breaking the mold of previous and boring Obrador TV shows, like "The Other Version" transmitted during the campaign.

"Noti Creas" (translated literally as "Don't Believe") was a satirical news capsule conducted by actress Jesusa Rodriguez. She played hated president Carlos Salinas (1988-1994) and aired a comical cartoon commercial to boycott several brand names like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, who Obrador's supporters allege helped to steal the presidency.

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