Andrés Manuel López Obrador facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andrés Manuel López Obrador
|
|
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg)
López Obrador in 2024
|
|
| 65th President of Mexico | |
| In office 1 December 2018 – 30 September 2024 |
|
| Preceded by | Enrique Peña Nieto |
| Succeeded by | Claudia Sheinbaum |
| President pro tempore of CELAC | |
| In office 8 January 2020 – 7 January 2022 |
|
| Preceded by | Jeanine Áñez |
| Succeeded by | Alberto Fernández |
| President of the National Regeneration Movement | |
| In office 20 November 2015 – 12 December 2017 |
|
| Preceded by | Martí Batres |
| Succeeded by | Yeidckol Polevnsky |
| Head of Government of Mexico City | |
| In office 5 December 2000 – 29 July 2005 |
|
| Preceded by | Rosario Robles |
| Succeeded by | Alejandro Encinas Rodríguez |
| President of the Party of the Democratic Revolution | |
| In office 2 August 1996 – 10 April 1999 |
|
| Preceded by | Porfirio Muñoz Ledo |
| Succeeded by | Pablo Gómez Álvarez |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 13 November 1953 Tepetitán, Tabasco, Mexico |
| Political party | Morena (2012–2024) |
| Other political affiliations |
Institutional Revolutionary Party (1976–1989) Party of the Democratic Revolution (1989–2012) |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 4, including Andrés Manuel |
| Relatives | Manuela Obrador Narváez (cousin) |
| Education | National Autonomous University of Mexico (BA) |
| Signature |  |
Andrés Manuel López Obrador (born 13 November 1953), often called AMLO, is a Mexican politician. He was the 65th president of Mexico from 2018 to 2024. Before becoming president, he was the Head of Government (like a mayor) of Mexico City from 2000 to 2005.
López Obrador finished his time as president in September 2024. Claudia Sheinbaum took over from him. After leaving office, he decided to stop being involved in politics and public life.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Andrés Manuel López Obrador was born on 13 November 1953. He grew up in Tepetitán, a small village in the state of Tabasco, Mexico. His parents, Andrés López Ramón and Manuela Obrador González, were merchants. He has several younger siblings. His family later moved to Villahermosa, the state capital.
When he was 19, López Obrador moved to Mexico City. He studied political science and public administration at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). He earned his degree in 1987. During his university years, he lived in a student house. He also became interested in the lives of the Chontal Maya people.
Family and Personal Life
After finishing his studies, López Obrador returned to Tabasco. He worked in government jobs and as a professor. In 1978, he married Rocío Beltrán Medina. They had three sons: José Ramón, Andrés Manuel, and Gonzalo Alfonso. Rocío Beltrán Medina passed away in 2003.
In 2006, he married Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller. They have one son, Jesús Ernesto.
López Obrador has had many nicknames. One of the most popular is El Peje. This name comes from a common fish in Tabasco called the pejelagarto. He is also a big fan of baseball.
Early Political Career
López Obrador began his political journey in 1976. He joined the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). A year later, he led the Indigenous People's Institute of Tabasco. In 1988, he left the PRI to join a new left-wing group. This group later became the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD).
In 1994, he ran to be the governor of Tabasco but did not win. He became known across Mexico for standing up for the rights of indigenous people. He even appeared on TV covered in mud and blood after protests to protect local people from oil pollution. From 1996 to 1999, he was the president of the PRD party.
Leading Mexico City (2000–2005)
On 2 July 2000, López Obrador was elected Head of Government of the Federal District. This job is like being the mayor of Mexico City. He won with 38.3% of the votes.
As mayor, López Obrador started many social programs. These programs gave money to people who needed help, like single mothers, older adults, and people with disabilities. He also put money into building homes and schools. He helped create the first new university in Mexico City in 30 years.
He worked to restore and modernize the historic downtown area. This area has very old buildings and is popular with tourists. He also worked with a rich businessman, Carlos Slim Helú, to improve parts of the city.
To make traffic flow better, he added extra levels to major roads. He also helped create the Metrobús, a fast bus service that runs through the city.
Presidential Campaigns
First Campaign in 2006
In 2005, López Obrador was chosen as the presidential candidate for the PRD party. He ran in the 2006 general election.
The election was very close. On 6 July 2006, the official count showed that his opponent, Felipe Calderón, won by a tiny margin. López Obrador said there were many problems with the election and asked for a recount. However, the election court decided that the election was fair and that Calderón was the winner.
Second Campaign in 2012
López Obrador ran for president again in the 2012 presidential election. He was the candidate for a group of parties called Movimiento Progresista.
.jpg)
Enrique Peña Nieto of the PRI party won this election. López Obrador again said there were problems with the voting. He asked for a full recount and tried to have the election canceled. But the election court rejected his request.
Third Campaign in 2018
López Obrador ran for president for the third time in the 2018 presidential election. This time, he represented a new party called MORENA, along with the Labor Party and the Social Encounter Party. Their group was called Juntos Haremos Historia. Before the election, polls showed he was far ahead of the other candidates.
López Obrador won the election on 1 July 2018 with 53% of the votes. This was the first time a candidate won with more than half of the votes since 1988. He also won in 31 out of 32 states in Mexico.
Presidency (2018–2024)
.jpg)
López Obrador called his presidency the "Fourth Transformation" of Mexican history. He said it was as important as the Mexican War of Independence, the Reform War, and the Mexican Revolution. He often talked about helping those who are less fortunate. A key part of his presidency was talking directly to the public. He held daily press conferences called mañaneras, which were broadcast on TV.
He also said that public forums and referendums (public votes) would be important for making decisions. These votes were held for big projects like building a new airport and the Mayan Train.
Fighting Corruption
One of López Obrador's main promises was to end corruption. He made many efforts to fight it. His government focused on stopping illegal fuel sales, tax fraud, and corruption in the justice system.
Education
In 2019, López Obrador's government worked to improve education. They created one hundred new public universities. They also changed parts of the Mexican Constitution to support education. The government started a scholarship program called "Bienestar Benito Juárez" to help students stay in school. They also changed the education reforms from the previous government to ensure free education for everyone.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico in 2020, schools closed. The president made an agreement with TV networks so students could watch classes at home. In 2021, schools slowly started to reopen in some states.
Economy
López Obrador focused on state control over the economy, especially in the oil industry. He started building a new oil refinery. His government increased the minimum wage by a large amount in 2019.
He also canceled the building of a new airport for Mexico City. Instead, the Felipe Ángeles International Airport was built. The trade deal with the U.S. and Canada was approved and started in July 2020.
Foreign Policy
In November 2023, López Obrador called for a ceasefire in the Israel–Hamas war.
Immigration and U.S. Relations
The U.S. government, under President Donald Trump, wanted to build a wall on the border with Mexico. They also pushed Mexico to stop migrants from Central America from reaching the U.S. López Obrador's government increased efforts to control the southern border. The National Guard was used to help with this.
Environment
Early in his presidency, López Obrador announced that his government would stop funding environmental groups. His government also cut funding for Mexico's national parks service and the National Institute of Anthropology and History. These cuts continued throughout his presidency.
Historical Commemorations
In 2021, Mexico celebrated several important historical events. These included the founding of Tenochtitlan, the fall of Tenochtitlan in 1521, and Mexico's independence in 1821. López Obrador apologized on behalf of Mexico to indigenous peoples and Mexicans of Chinese descent for past injustices. He also invited the King of Spain and the Pope to Mexico to apologize for the conquest of America.
Midterm Elections 2021
In the June 2021 midterm elections, López Obrador's ruling group lost some seats in Congress. However, his coalition still kept a simple majority of seats.
Awards and Honours
National Honour
Mexico: Grand Master and Collar of the Order of the Aztec Eagle (1 December 2018).
International Honours
Guatemala: Great Collar of the Order of the Quetzal (5 May 2022).
Honduras: Grand Cross of the Order of José Cecilio del Valle (6 May 2022).
Cuba: Medal of the Order of José Martí (8 May 2022).
Awards
- World No Tobacco Day Award by the World Health Organization, in 2022.
Places Named After López Obrador
In October 2019, López Obrador said he did not want any streets or statues named after him when he retired. However, some places already bear his name:
- López Obrador Street, Tezonttila, Xochimilco, CDMX (since 2003)
- Avenida López Obrador, San Vicente Chicolapa de Juarez, Chimalhuacán, State of Mexico
- A neighborhood in Arcelia municipality, Guerrero
- An alley in La Montańa de Guerrero, Acapulco, Guerrero
- A street in San Juan Bautista Tuxtepec, Oaxaca
- A street in La Concepción, Veracruz
Images for kids
-
López Obrador in 2024
-
Signature of Andrés Manuel López Obrador
See also
- History of Mexico
- History of democracy in Mexico
- Politics of Mexico
In Spanish: Andrés Manuel López Obrador para niños
