Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, Mexico’s president-elect, brings hopes of improved economic prosperity for his country, having won last week’s election on a nationalist platform. According to experts, he is a pragmatist but could be firmer than his predecessor, current president Enrique Pena Nieto, in battling the U.S. on immigration and renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). With an aim to more equitably spread economic gains and uplift disadvantaged sections of Mexico’s population of 130 million, Lopez Obrador has promised to root out corruption and crime; bring social gains such as universal health care coverage and care for the elderly; enact much-needed reforms to the country’s energy sector and agriculture; and forge closer ties with the business community. Along with coalition partners, his party will have a majority in Congress — a strength that many of his predecessors have not had. Optimism runs high in the run-up to Lopez Obrador’s assumption of office in December.…