Disagreeing with the party, former Mexican first lady runs for president herself

Former Mexican first lady Margarita Zavala announced she is leaving her party to run for president in the 2018 election.

Former First Lady of Mexico Margarita Zavala. Photo: Reuters

Mrs. MargaritaZavala, 50 years old, wife of former Mexican President Felipe Calderon, announced in a video released on October 6 that she was leaving the opposition National Action Party (PAN) due to disagreements with the party, according to Reuters.

"The anti-democratic sentiment is growing within the PAN as we have been criticizing within the ruling party and other parties," she said.

PAN, đThe opposition party has the most seats in the Mexican Congress,alliance with the opposition Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) and the Citizens' Movement Party in the election race. Ms. Zavala therefore said that there would be no candidate selection process.presidentin the PAN party, against her wishes.

PAN party chairman Ricardo Anaya said in a video later that the process was still ongoing. He respected Ms Zavala's decision, although he said her departure would only weaken the party.The ruling Institutional Revolutionaries (PRI) of President Enrique Pena Nietobenefit

An August poll by the Mitofsky firm showed the coalition leading with nearly 22 percent of voters, a few percentage points ahead of the PRI and the former Mexico City mayor.Andres Manuel Lopez ObradorHowever, 37% of Mexican voters are undecided about which party they will vote for.

Opinion polls over several months show thatMrs. Zavala is one of the leading candidates for thesince she announced her candidacy in June 2015.She often ranks second only to the former mayor of Mexico City.

According toPRD party memberFernando Belaunzaran said that if future polls showed that Ms Zavala had little chance of winning, the coalition must be ready to welcome her back. "We have to leave the door open," he said.

Mexico’s presidential election will be held in July 2018. The PRI is struggling to maintain support among voters. Polls show a tight race, even though most of the official candidates have yet to be chosen.

According to VNE