Protesting lecturers block the Mexican president from the every day televised handle | World information

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Mexican teachers in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas prevented President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador from entering a venue in the regional capital where he was scheduled to hold his daily television press conference.

The left-wing president had to make his remarks by video call on his phone from a car in Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital of Chiapas, while in the background inaudible protesters shouted and talked over a megaphone.

Since taking office in December 2018, Lopez Obrador has used his morning press conferences, which start at 7 a.m. and can last over two hours, to set the political agenda and confront critics.

Most of the conferences are held in Mexico City, but sometimes he leads them while traveling around the country.

“You have the right to protest. We will respect that,” said Lopez Obrador, referring to the teachers. “We offer them a dialogue.”

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“I’ll stay here as long as necessary.”

Mexican teachers often strike, and the recent protests are linked to recent teaching reforms, Mexican newspapers said.

(Reporting by Sharay Angulo; writing by Drazen Jorgic; editing by Jonathan Oatis)

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