Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Monday 17 SepteMber 2018

Mexican president elect introduces civilian head of security

By SOFIA ORTEGA and AMY incapacitated, depending
GUTHRIE on his time in office. Interim
Associated Press leadership could fall to the
TEPIC, Mexico (AP) — Mexi- interior minister or head of
co’s president-elect kicked the Senate until general
off a nationwide tour Sun- elections are held again.
day with his new head of Mexico is a dangerous
security in tow: a restaurant place for politicians. More
owner named Daniel Asaf than 145 politicians — most
who will coordinate a ci- local figures — have been
vilian brigade in lieu of the killed in Mexico over the
Mexican equivalent of the past year. Mexican security
U.S. Secret Service. experts say Lopez Obrador
Andres Manuel Lopez Ob- is taking on too much risk.
rador, who takes office They point to this month’s
Dec. 1, introduced Asaf to stabbing on a crowded
reporters at Mexico City’s street of Brazilian presiden-
international airport before tial candidate Jair Bolson-
departing for Tepic, capi- aro and to the 1994 assas-
tal of the western state of sination of Mexican presi-
Nayarit. He said Asaf will dential hopeful Luis Colosio
organize 20 civilian assis- as proof that you never
tants who will accompany Mexican President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador walks through supporters as he holds an know who might have mur-
him five at a time so he can event in Tepic, Mexico, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. derous intentions. Alleged
interact with voters without Associated Press assailants in both cases
getting squashed. listen to pleas that range 13 years with two failed bids tween 2003 and 2011 was have been painted as lone
The wildly popular Lopez from tearful requests for for the presidency before Polimnia Romana, a vet- wolfs acting out of mental
Obrador enjoys engag- assistance locating kid- winning the highest office erinarian who assembled a instability and disagree-
ing with everyday Mexi- napped or missing loved in a landslide July vote. He small group of female po- ment with the politicians’
cans and is mobbed daily ones to humble requests visited remote and danger- lice to handle crowd con- messages.
by well-wishers. He shakes for jobs. ous hamlets with a modest trol. The female force’s light Lopez Obrador is “playing
hands. He poses for pic- Lopez Obrador cam- entourage. touch with children and with fire,” said Alejandro
tures. And he pauses to paigned across Mexico for His head of security be- women who approached Schtulmann, president of
Lopez Obrador earned the Mexico City-based po-
them the nickname “the litical risk firm EMPRA.
Vatican expels Chilean priest gazelles.” Security analyst Alejandro
Romana finds it “very worri-
Hope said the low-key civil-
accused of sexual abuse some” that Lopez Obrador ian detail makes it “easier”
wants to entrust his safety for someone to harm the in-
to someone without secu-
coming president, whether
rity experience as he nears he’s visiting violence-torn
SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — earlier been suspended month raided the head- the presidency. Lopez Ob- rural areas or congested
Chilean church authori- from priestly duties for five quarters of the country’s rador “cares too much cities. Hope also pointed
ties say Pope Francis has years after an investigation bishop’s conference as about public opinion,” she out that the Mexican secret
ordered a man accused into similar allegations. He is part of a widespread in- said, adding that he is “be- service does more than
of sexually abusing minors now in his late 70s. vestigation into sex abuse having like a candidate guarantee the personal se-
removed from the priest- Precht headed the Chilean committed by members of who is looking for votes.” curity of the president. It se-
hood. church’s office in defense the Marist Brothers order. Mexican presidents are cures his communications
The Santiago archbishop’s of human rights in the 1970s The pope earlier ordered only eligible to serve a sin- and the installations he will
office said Saturday the during part of the dictator- an investigation and de- gle six-year term. The coun- visit, while handling logistics
decision cannot be ap- ship of Gen. Augusto Pino- nounced a “culture of try’s constitution spells out and acting as point-peo-
pealed. chet. abuse and cover-up” in various succession plans ple for visits by international
Cristian Precht already had Chilean authorities last Chile’s Catholic Church.q should a sitting president be leaders.q