Mexico’s top electoral court has declared conservative candidate Felipe Calderon the winner of the country’s disputed presidential election over Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The head of the electoral tribunal, Lionel Castillo Gonzales, made the announcement.

• Lionel Castillo Gonzales: “First, according to the final computation of the election, the candidate that obtained the most votes in the election of the President of the United States of Mexico was the citizen Felipe de Jesus Calderon Hinojosa. Second, the Presidential elections of the United States of Mexico are valid.”

The tribunal acknowledged there were election irregularities and errors but the court ruled that Calderon’s victory stands. Lopez Obrador has said he will never recognize Calderon’s presidency and has vowed to form a parallel government. He is planning to hold a massive rally in Mexico City on September 16, Mexico’s independence day, to set up his shadow government.