MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

US implicit support for Calderon's victory

United States congratulated on Friday the Mexican people for the “free and fair elections” and expressed “full confidence” in the country's democratic institutions.

The transcript of the message was announced in Washington by the State Department spokesperson who recalled that Conservative candidate Felipe Calderon beat Manuel Andres Lopez Obrador in the final ballot recount of Sunday's July 2 election.

"The Electoral Tribunal must ratify the results of the elections", said the US State Department spokesperson adding that was the last pending step of the Mexican electoral process.

The autonomous Federal Electoral Institute, IFE, showed Calderon garnered 35.89% of votes, 0.58% ahead of its runner up Lopez Obrador with 35.31%.

Calderon, who belongs to the ruling National Action Party, PAN, said that he was very happy and grateful to the Mexican people and defended the legality of the electoral process.

Calderon also reiterated its call for a government of national unity and reconciliation.

However Lopez Obrador from the Democratic Revolution Party, PRD, claims "inconsistencies" in the recount and announced he would challenge the election results. His followers have been called to a massive rally in the heart of Mexico City on Saturday.

But the delegation of electoral observers from the European Union said no irregularities were reported in the final recount of votes for president.

Conservative EuroDeputy Jose Ignacio Salafranca from Spain, head of the 80 observers, said all the adequate guarantees to protect votes and tallies had been complied and "no EU observers reported any incident or irregularity which could blur the electoral process".

The EU observers participated in vote counting random inspections in a third of electoral districts where recounts took place Wednesday and Thursday.

As to Lopez Obrador request of a vote by vote recount Salafranca said he was supportive as long "as the law allows it", but it will be Federal Electoral Tribunal (from the Judiciary branch) that "has to decide".

"Our vote of confidence is not a blank check, so our final report will only be available when the whole electoral process is over", said the EU MP.