MEXICO CITY, July 28 (UPI) -- Mexico City Mayor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador prepared to step down Thursday as a prelude to his campaign for the presidency.
Obrador is expected to run on the Democratic Revolution Party ticket and is considered a front-runner to succeed President Vicente Fox. He said he was optimistic about his chances of winning, El Universal reported Thursday.
The Mexico City mayor's presidential ambitions were almost thwarted earlier this year by allegations that he had abused his power, by ignoring a judge's order in 2001 to halt construction of an access road to a hospital. His opponents accused him of abusing his office to further his political ambitions.
Ongoing allegations against the mayor caused a political scuffle in Mexico, prompting Fox to fire his attorney general in the hopes of ending it.
Obrador officially leaves his mayoral position Friday.
