Santiago Creel has announced this Monday afternoon that he is withdrawing from the Broad Front presidential bid for Mexico. The deputy refused to support his party partner, Xóchitl Gálvez, who will run against Beatriz Paredes for the opposition nomination in next year’s presidential election. Creel came in third in the poll leaving only three candidates and has participated in forums provided by the opposition alliance as part of his candidate selection process. As of this Sunday, panista is working on his campaign. “I announce that I am providing full support to Xóchitl Gálvez to lead the Mexican Broad Front,” Creel said in a video posted on his Twitter account. “No personal or party interest can get above Mexico,” he added.

Speculation regarding Creel’s fallback ended after rumors covered the opposition’s political agenda on Monday. And they did so with a 13-minute video from the deputy, who had announced hours earlier that he would publish it. “To achieve the change Mexico needs, the best alternative is to stick together around Xóchitl,” he began with his message. Creel stated that he was a friend and political ally of Gálvez, and directed the support of his followers to the PAN senator. “Right now my only dream is to be at the forefront of defending our young democracy and all the generations that have contributed.” The representative said that the country needs a deal and not a fight. “Xóchitl and I have found similarities in actions and thoughts, and we have sealed it with an unconditional handshake.”

From the battle between Gálvez and Paredes will emerge the name that will be contested for the presidency with the National Regeneration Movement (Morena). The Broad Front for Mexico will complete its internship on September 3, three days before President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s party does. Until now the favorite has been Gálvez, who was ranked first in the last survey, with a 38.3% preference. Paredes, former national leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), got 26% of the vote, while Creel got just over 20%. The first survey eliminated Enrique de la Madrid, also from the tricolor formation, who finished fourth, although he did not say what results he got.

PAN’s president, Marko Cortés, sent a message this Monday after the announcement saying that Creel’s decision “demonstrates his deep political status and love” for the country. “National Action thanks and appreciates your generosity. We recognize that you are placing Mexico above your legitimate personal aspirations,” said the leader of the blue and white party, who called for a “closure” with Gálvez, which “people on the streets are asking for.” The senator, who is touring Quintana Roo This Monday, acknowledging Creel’s “courage” and “honor.” “Santiago and I are together on this project,” said the senator who consulted the press.

This weekend the registration of candidate endorsements in the internal process ended, which, according to Broad Front, achieved the participation of around three million citizens. Those who have registered will be the only ones who can vote in the final stage, which is a pre-election between the two women still running. Hours before Creel’s resignation, it emerged that some 1,800 PAN members had sent deputies a letter asking him to step down. “What makes sense and is useful for Mexico is that PAN members align with Xóchitl Gálvez, the most competitive candidate who has aroused sympathy, aroused enthusiasm and aroused public interest in citizen participation,” the document reads.

Next steps in the opposition president’s apprenticeship include three more forums in the coming days. The first meeting will be held in León, in the State of Guanajuato, this Tuesday, where they will discuss their plans in areas such as health, education, culture and social programs. On August 24, the penultimate will be held in Guadalajara, in Jalisco. There they will be able to discuss Mexico’s relations with Latin America, with its northern neighbours, the United States and Canada, as well as with other countries such as China, Russia, the European Union, the United Kingdom and Ukraine. Next Saturday, August 26, will be the final meeting, in Mérida, Yucatán. The theme raised is women.

After the forum, a new survey will be conducted among applicants, between August 27 and 30, which will have a value of 50% in the final decision. The other half will come from whoever wins the primary, which will be the same on September 3.

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