López Obrador clarifies how much his ‘luxury’ watch costs; announces that he will raffle it off at La Mañanera: “Take your number”

The president will raffle one of his watches during the last morning press conference Credit: Government of Mexico

Following a post going viral on social media claiming that the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), is wearing a watch made by a luxury brand, the president clarified this Friday, September 6, the real price of this accessory and then announced to the press that, during his last press conference known as La Mañanera, he will raffle one of his watches, although it will only be among the journalists who have most frequently attended the Treasury Room of the National Palace.

It is worth remembering that it was last Thursday when the founder of the National Regeneration Movement (Morena) asked his team to project the publication made on the social network Facebook where it is stated that he uses a watch worth more than four thousand 700 euros, which is from the IWC Schaffhausen brand of Swiss origin and which is recognized for producing luxury watches with a combination of technical sophistication and impeccable design.

“There is one similar to this one, but it is from one of those bad brands and they take me out, they use me. This is the brand and it seems to be bad (…) A friend gave it to me about 8 years ago and it never fails,” he said on Thursday, September 5.

The president clarified the price of his watch | Photo: Government of Mexico

Continuing with this topic, the president stressed on the morning of Friday, September 6, that the watch he frequently wears and which sparked the controversy was a gift made six years ago, during which time the item cost 120 dollars, which at the current exchange rate represents a value of 2,399.40 Mexican pesos.

While the president insisted that it was not about the luxury watch that has made him controversial, López Obrador mentioned to reporters that the most regrettable thing about the matter is not that he says the accessory is a luxury item, but that in reality the person who focused on making the events go viral was someone linked to the Zapatista movement.

“What really caught my attention is that the person who published this is the son of the late Amado Avendaño and Conchita, who were Zapatistas, and he ended up being a defender of the conservative bloc. It’s a shame, because he is the one who wrote the text, from Zapatismo to conservatism. I started to look and he is one of the most tenacious opponents of the transformation, of the Pink Tide.”

The Morena member from Macuspana, Tabasco, stressed that the reason he was making the identity of the person responsible for the publication known nationwide was to air and understand “how extremes meet.”

The president will raffle off a watch among journalists | Photo: Government of Mexico

Once his explanation was over, he decided to reveal a surprise to those present: he is going to raffle off one of his watches, and although he stressed that it was not as good as the one he wears, the purpose was to recognize the communicators who, throughout his six-year term, have stayed up late to arrive on time at the presidential headquarters.

“I have already made a decision for you, because I have another one that is not as good as this one, but we are going to raffle it off here among you, on the last day, if you accept it. All those who have come, take your number… only those who have been in La Mañanera from the beginning, in the morning, and I will give it to you here,” he said.

The president will raffle off a watch among journalists | Photo: Government of Mexico

Although the president did not explain which watch he will raffle or its brand, he did emphasize that the raffle would take place on Monday, September 30, the date on which he will give his last morning address and for which there will be tamales for those present.