Protestors declare a parallel President.

A huge swarm of demonstrators in Mexico City’s Zocalo square have proclaimed Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as President nearly ten weeks after he lost the election. The gesture is purely symbolic; Lopez Obrador’s rival Felipe Calderon will be sworn in as real Mexican President on December 1st.

But Lopez Obrador and his leftist supporters say the election in July was a fraud. Calderon won with a tiny margin of 234,000 votes out of 41 million cast. The swearing in of a parallel President and cabinet should reduce chaotic street protests, and instead provide a political means for Lopez Obrador to challenge Calderon.

Copyright © 2012 euronews