"I am not a dictator" said Presidential Candidate Lopez Obrador at meeting

MEXICO CITY, México, April 26, 2006

 "I am not the dictator that many describe me as but  a democrat who does Taxi Heathrow Airport politics at the grassroots level," said Manuel Lopez Obrador, the presidential candidate for the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) at a meeting with the Mexican Bishops' Conference (CEM).

Bishop Abelardo Alvarado, president of the CEM's department of Church State Relations had said minutes earlier that the meeting would be crucial. Jokingly he said "We are going to see if (Lopez Obrador) passes the test," he said.

Lopez Obrador, a candidate on the left of the Mexican political spectrum, told more than 100 bishops that he will respect the triumph of the winner in the upcoming July 4 elections.

He underscored that he believes in dialogue and respects grassroots decisions. He also emphasized that he does not support violence.

According to an article in La Jornada, the PRD candidate impressed his audience when he said that if he wins the electoral race he will convene a national agreement for governance that will include the Catholic hierarchy.

Lopez Obrador and his foreign policy advisor Jose Maria Perez and his press coordinator Cesar Yanez sat at the end table during the meeting held behind closed doors.  He was accompanied by the president of the CEM, Bishop José Guadalupe Martín Rábago and Apostolic Nuncio in Mexico Giuseppe Bertello.

According to some of the ministers present Lopez Obrador said he was Catholic, like his family and said that he is misinterpreted when they say he is a Christian (Evangelical) because he makes references to Christ.

As was to be expected, the first questions on the part of the bishops were related to abortion, euthanasia, the so-called day after pill and the family. He said that when he is elected he will submit these issues to consultation "because that is how they should be addressed in a democratic nation."

There was a moment of tension in the meeting when the candidate separated the issue of the day after pill stating that it was a decision of the Health Secretary. The Bishop of Cuernavaca, Florencio Olivera objected stating that the "natural law is first and can not be submitted to consultation."

Lopez Obrador answered by saying that it is always good to listen to people "as corresponds to a democratic government" and underscored his best disposition to respect the beliefs of all the groups.

The candidate made no reference to a demand previously expressed by Bishops to have full freedom in the areas of education and the media.

Lopez Obrador received the applause of the bishops. At the end of the meeting Bishop Alvarez said that the candidate "had passed the verification" although he clarified that the true verification will be done by the citizens.