Mexico City Mayor Stepping Down to Run for President

Two years after he became the first elected mayor in Mexico City’s modern history, Cuauhtemoc Cardenas has announced he will leave his post to dedicate his full attention to his presidential campaign.

Cardenas’ indefinite leave of absence, which must be approved by the city council, will cap two years in which he has been stymied by the deep-rooted problems of the world’s second-largest city and growing divisions in his left-center Democratic Revolution Party.

Cardenas, the first member of an opposition party to hold the post in 70 years, said he wants to leave sometime after Sept. 17 to work on the 2000 elections.

While it is unclear who will succeed Cardenas for the remaining year of his term, Assistant Mayor Rosario Robles is considered the most likely choice for interim mayor. Cardenas’ party holds a majority on the city council, which approves such interim appointments.

Cardenas announced his plans to request the leave of absence Tuesday, but did not specify when the leave might take effect.

By law, all potential candidates for the presidency must resign public office six months before the elections. Elections for the presidency and the Mexico City mayoralty will be held in July 2000.

Cardenas has already accepted the presidential nomination of the tiny Labor Party, while the Democratic Revolution Party is engaged in negotiations with the other main opposition group, the National Action Party, on the possibility of fielding an alliance candidate in the presidential race.