Mexico: Fox warns of authoritarian rule

MEXICO CITY, July 1 (UPI) -- Mexican President Vicente Fox warned the country about the possible return of authoritarian rule, El Universal reported Friday in an exclusive interview.

"In a democracy there are always risks and we are effectively facing the possibility of falling into a fatal regression," said Fox. "(We are at risk of) falling back to presidential authoritarianism."

Fox appeared to be making allusions to presidential candidate, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who is expected to win handily next year's election.

The Mexican City mayor, Obrador was accused this year of abusing his authority, ignoring federal laws and accused by Fox of overspending his budget.

The president also pleaded with Mexicans to keep in mind that the former ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party had governed Mexico for 71 years until Fox assumed office in 2000.