By Jorge Antonio Rocha
MEXICO CITY (AA) - Mexico commemorated on Friday the battle of Puebla -- a victory against the French in 1862.
Current Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador left the National Palace in Mexico City and flew to Puebla where he conducted a news conference to mark the occasion
"The Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862, was a great victory that set a precedent: the best army in the world can be defeated when fighting in defense of sovereignty and freedom. This episode kept the flame of hope and patriotism burning during the subsequent occupation," he said.
Following the end of the "Reform War" in 1861, where control of Mexico was fought for by a conservative ruling class composed of clergy, high-profile military members, wealthy landowners and merchants, and the liberal movement which strived to rule Mexico following the federal republic model of the US, then-President Benito Juarez faced a divided country and an economic crisis.
Concerned about public finances strained by years of war, Juarez announced the suspension of all foreign debt payments, which drew the ire of France, Spain and the UK -- Mexico's main creditors.
Initially, the three countries would set a military siege on Mexico to get it to submit to a secure debt repayment. But Mexico was able to repel Spanish and English forces through negotiations.
Using Mexico's default on its debt as an excuse, the French held its course and sought to take the Mexican capital in May 1862.
Overpowered and outnumbered, and with one day to prepare for the French, the Mexican military and indigenous forces defeated the French on May 5 in Puebla in central Mexico.
Although the French monarchy would ultimately take control of Mexico the following year and impose Maximilian of Habsburg as the new leader of Mexico, the battle of Puebla is celebrated as a story of sovereignty and patriotism.
In Puebla, a civic-military parade is celebrated annually to commemorate the battle. This year, 12,531 students and teachers from 35 public schools, 19 from the capital city of Puebla, and 16 from outside towns, attended.
The president, armed forces and the National Guard were also in attendance, with the military reenacting the battle at the city's military headquarters.