Thousand’s of people waited in line at a Soriana supermarket in Mexico City, Tuesday July 3, 2012to redeem pre-paid gift cards given to them by the party that won the Mexico Presidential Election. A few cardholders were angry, complaining they didn’t get as much as promised, or that their cards weren’t working. The incidents are inflaming accusations that the election was marred by massive vote-buying.
The cards were good for two days following the Sunday election. Under Mexican election law, giving voters gifts is not a crime unless the gift is conditioned on a certain vote or meant to influence a vote.
Several shoppers complained that they were told the cards were worth 500 pesos ($37.50), but when we got to the check-out, they were only worth 100 pesos ($7.50).
“This is a scandal ... They bought millions of votes,” Lopez Obrador said at a news conference, referring to the PRI. “Clearly, they far exceeded campaign spending limits ... this is a national embarrassment.”
