Mexico’s Interior Minister Steps Down To Pursue Presidential Nomination

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MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexico’s Interior Minister Lopez said on Thursday that he will step down as interior minister at the end of the week to try to win the ruling party’s nomination for next year’s presidential election.

Mexico Mayor Scheinbaum and Foreign Minister Ebrard have already announced their candidacy from President Lopez Obrador’s ruling party, the National Renaissance Movement (MORENA).

Mr. Lopez is a close aide to Mr. Lopez Obrador. In Mexico, the Minister of the Interior is an important post in charge of security and other matters.

MORENA will announce its party candidates for the presidential election on September 6th. López Obrador cannot seek re-election because Mexican presidents are limited by law to six-year terms.

Opinion polls currently tend to put Scheinbaum in first place and Ebrard in second. If elected, Scheinbaum will be the first female president.