MEXICO’S leading presidential candidate repeatedly touted the social programmes of outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in the second debate Sunday night ahead of the June 2 election.

Former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum of the president’s Morena party continues to hold a healthy lead over Xochitl Galvez of a coalition of right-wing opposition parties and Jorge Alvarez Maynez of the small Citizen Movement party.

Mr Lopez Obrador significantly raised Mexico’s minimum wage and increased spending on social programmes, most of which are popular direct cash transfer programmes.