Mexico's Ebrard sticks with ruling party, avoids break with president

FILE PHOTO: Mexico's former Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, who was a runner-up to Claudia Sheinbaum in the ruling National Regeneration Movement's (MORENA) presidential primary, holds a press conference in Mexico City, Mexico, September 11, 2023. REUTERS/Raquel Cunha/File Photo

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Former foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Monday he would stay in Mexico's ruling party, ending weeks of speculation he could seek the presidency in 2024 with the opposition and break with his longtime boss, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

In September, Ebrard finished runner-up in the presidential primaries of the leftist National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) to former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, and rejected the result, saying the process was marred by irregularities.