Mexico presidential race's front-runner denies charge of wrongdoing

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Mexico's presidential race's front-runner Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador denied any wrongdoing on Wednesday after another candidate accused him of improperly awarding government contracts to a construction mogul when he was Mexico City mayor.

Candidate Ricardo Anaya brandished documents at a presidential debate on Tuesday claiming builder Jose Maria Rioboo received contracts without a competitive bidding process.

Lopez Obrador said on Wednesday the contracts given to Rioboo did not violate any law and studies showed he was the best man for the job.

Mexico's presidential candidate Ricardo Anaya, standing for the "Mexico al Frente" coalition of the PAN-PRD-Movimiento Ciudadano parties, speaks to supporters at the Deportivo Plan Sexenal in Mexico City, June 13, 2018. /VCG Photo

"Andres Manuel (Lopez Obrador) you have turned into what you always criticized, just like the PRI (ruling political party) you also have your favorite contractors," Anaya said at Tuesday night's round table discussion.

"Yes or no? When you were mayor you directly granted contracts, with no bidding process for 170 million pesos?" Anaya asked.

Lopez Obrador said: "No, what you're saying makes no sense. I'll tell you no, no I am not corrupt ... I am not corrupt like you."

The documents cited by Anaya show that a trust that managed roadway infrastructure in Mexico City during Lopez Obrador's 2000-2005 tenure as mayor gave contracts directly to Rioboo to build an elevated highway around part of the city.

Supporters hold signs while Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, presidential candidate of the National Regeneration Movement Party, (not pictured) speaks during a campaign rally in the town of Chilapa, near Chilpancingo, Guerrero state, June 7, 2018. /VCG Photo

Lopez Obrador said the project was audited several times.

Rioboo's firm did not respond to requests for comment.

Lopez Obrador has amassed a double-digit lead in most polls ahead of the July 1 vote and says his administration will root out corruption, which he estimates costs government coffers 500 billion Mexican pesos (24 billion US dollars) annually.

In his third bid to reach the presidency, Lopez Obrador says if elected that money would be used to boost the economy, jobs and improve public safety.

He says he would scrutinize for signs of corruption in contracts granted by President Enrique Pena Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) for the development of the new massive Mexico City airport and exploration and production in the oil and gas sector.

Source(s): Reuters