Unlike The President, The Ambassador Of Mexico Called Joe Biden The Chosen President Of The US

Joe Biden (Sumber: Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - The Ambassador of Mexico to the United States (US) Martha Barcena said that Joe Biden was a 'candidate' for the elected President of the US. Even though so far Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopes Obrador has refrained from congratulating Joe Biden before it is officially declared.

Bercena's remarks indicate a slight shift in position after the Mexican government said it was too early to recognize the winner of the US Presidential Election (Pilpres). Quoting Reuters, Wednesday 11 November, Martha Barcena published a series of talking points via Twitter entitled 'The Position of the Mexican Government' which contains a new term.

"This principled position underlines respect for the US political system and institutions and for the Democratic and Republican Parties as well as for President Donald Trump and presidential candidate-elect Joseph Biden," said Barcena.

"Mexico is poised to engage in a constructive spirit with any future US government, based on the lasting bonds of friendship and neighborliness that bind our two countries."

Joe Biden, the Democratic presidential candidate, secures the presidency by winning Pennsylvania on Saturday 7 November. But Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump has so far refused to give up.

Trump has even pursued lawsuits in several states in a bid to retain power saying Biden's ballots were illegal. State officials said there were no significant irregularities in the US elections taking place on November 3.

Different attitudes

Meanwhile the Mexican Foreign Ministry did not provide specific comment on the ambassador's statement. A ministry official said that the statement was issued by the embassy.

So far, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has refrained from congratulating Joe Biden. Even when government leaders in many countries send their best wishes when Joe Biden is elected.

Lopez Obrador has reiterated that he will not recognize the winner of the election until the legal dispute is resolved, but said he has "no problem" with Biden.

The Mexican president attributed caution to allegations of fraud in his country's two presidential elections in 2006 and 2012, before finally returning for a third time in 2018. Mexican officials say the decision was born from a desire not to provoke Trump while he was at the White House. Under Trump, Mexico must meet demands to stem illegal migrants or face trade tariffs from the US.