MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Mexican president elect begins regional tour

Mexico's president elect Felipe Calderón begins Monday a tour of four Central American countries and five in South America with the purpose of establishing close links before he takes office next December first.

The tour begins in Guatemala, then Honduras, El Salvador and Costa Rica. In South America the countries to visit are Colombia, Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

"In each of those countries we have interviews scheduled with the heads of government, Congressional leaders and with representatives from the private sector who have, or are interested in a constructive relation with Mexico", said Calderon Sunday in Mexico City about his coming visits.

In Central America Mr Calderon is expected to confirm the close links of the region's countries with Mexico, particularly through the Puebla-Panama Plan, an integration program, mainly in energy issues, between the southern states of Mexico and these highly energy dependent countries.

Mr. Calderon has announced that he expects Mexico to become a leader in the region and a voice in international affairs, and "these first contacts are intended to explain what my government is planning in foreign and trade affairs", he added.

Mr. Calderon belongs to the senior party of the Mexican ruling Conservative coalition, PAN, has close links with the Opus Dei organization of the Catholic Church, and has been defined by the Mexican press as a pro-business leader "further to the right than President Vicente Fox".

However Mr Calderon is expected to face strong resistance because the leading opposition force, Party of the Democratic Revolution, PRD, and its frustrated presidential candidate Manuel Andres Lopez Obrador have refused to admit Calderon's victory alleging electoral fraud. PRD has the second strongest representation in the Mexican Congress.

In support of Lopez Obrador, Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez has said that Caracas does not recognize Mr. Calderon as the legitimately elected president of Mexico.