Mexico’s governing party facing big test in trying to hold together without charismatic president

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico’s immensely powerful governing party may face its biggest test yet as it announces its candidates for the 2024 gubernatorial elections. The challenge isn’t coming from flagging opposition parties. Rather, the party of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has to prove it can hold together and prevent the desertion of candidates who aren’t picked. There are questions whether with the end of term for its charismatic founder, the ideologically diverse party may start falling apart. One candidate has already bolted from the party.