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To mark his first year of presidency, Andrès Manuel Lopez Obrador was having a big meeting on the Zocalo square in Mexico City. AFP Photos / Pedro Pardo

It has been just one year since President Andrès Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) assumed power. An anniversary that he celebrated this Sunday in the central square of Mexico City. This leftist president remains very popular even if his record remains mixed.

from our correspondent in Mexico,

Most striking is President Lopez Obrador's outstanding popularity among Mexicans a year after assuming the presidency. According to the latest polls, its approval rate is between 60 and 70% , despite the economic problems and violence in the country. And moreover, half of the population considers that its quality of life is better than it was twelve months ago.

Super President

Since coming to power, he has played the role of a super president who can not delegate, who makes all the decisions and who has the advantage of being able to govern without opposition, without political counterweight and with a majority in Congress. He therefore has a very centralized presidency.

In addition, it is totally atypical. He works all week long. From Monday to Friday, he offers a press conference at seven in the morning. And on weekends, he travels the country, only by commercial plane or private car, to meet his fellow citizens and his supporters!

But this management is mixed. At the social level, it has nevertheless managed to launch new programs that must improve the living conditions of the poorest. He also imposed a policy of government austerity. It has made some progress in its fight against corruption. And he managed to negotiate a new free trade agreement with the United States and Canada.

Insecurity still present

As for failures, they are at two levels. On the economic front, Mexico is stagnating with almost no growth this year. But the big challenge for Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador is insecurity and violence . This year again, the violence has increased and the measures it has taken, such as the creation of the National Guard, have not had any effect. Finally, faced with the difficulties encountered in his management, Lopez Obrador asked his citizens to be patient and to give him another year to implement the great transformation that he promised them.

At the same time, he must handle a tumultuous relationship with Donald Trump. The two heads of state claim to have a friendly relationship. In appearance at least, because to avoid any tension with his American counterpart, Lopez Obrador has always accepted the dictates and blackmail of Donald Trump, as was the case in customs taxes and especially immigration .

►Read more: Reactions in Mexico after Trump's statements on drug cartels