What can the global left learn from Mexico – where far-right politics hasn’t taken off? | Thomas Graham
In a recent analysis, journalist Thomas Graham sheds light on the political landscape in Mexico, particularly focusing on the left-wing governing party, Morena, and its recent electoral successes. As the 2024 election year approaches, many observers have noted a grim outlook for incumbents globally, with a notable rise in far-right movements. However, Mexico stands out as an exception. Under the leadership of Morena and its coalition partners in the Sigamos Haciendo Historia alliance, the party not only retained the presidency but also achieved a remarkable two-thirds supermajority in the Chamber of Deputies. This success is particularly striking as the far-right opposition failed to field a candidate, highlighting Morena’s unique position in the current political climate. The party’s ability to resonate with voters by addressing Mexico’s deep-seated inequality has garnered attention from progressive movements worldwide, making it a focal point for those advocating social justice.
Historically, Morena has made significant strides since its inception. The party’s roots can be traced back to 2018 when Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a veteran figure on the left, won a staggering 55% of the vote in the presidential elections, marking a pivotal moment in Mexican politics. This year, Claudia Sheinbaum, a close ally of López Obrador, further solidified Morena’s dominance by securing an impressive 60% of the vote in her presidential bid. This victory echoes the earlier successes of Latin America’s “pink tide,” a period characterized by the reelection of leftist leaders like Hugo Chávez and Evo Morales, who similarly gained more votes in their second terms than in their initial campaigns. However, Graham notes that while Morena’s achievements are commendable, the party’s approach is not without its contradictions. The pragmatic elements of its governance have sometimes diluted the principles of social justice that it initially championed, raising questions about the sustainability and replicability of its model for other progressive movements around the globe.
Graham’s insights into Morena’s trajectory reveal a complex interplay between idealism and pragmatism, prompting a deeper examination of what it means to pursue social justice in a contemporary political framework. As the party continues to navigate the challenges of governance and public expectations, its experience may serve as both an inspiration and a cautionary tale for leftist movements worldwide. The juxtaposition of Morena’s electoral successes against the backdrop of rising far-right sentiments elsewhere underscores the need for a nuanced understanding of political dynamics in the region, as well as the importance of addressing social inequality in meaningful ways.
Thomas Graham, a journalist based in Mexico City, explains how the leftwing governing party, Morena, has promoted social justice but diluted principle with pragmatism
If you were to summarise the 2024 election year, you might say: grim for incumbents, good for the far right. Yet Mexico bucked both trends. Its governing party, Morena, not only retained the presidency but – along with its
partners
in the Sigamos Haciendo Historia coalition – gained a two-thirds supermajority in the chamber of deputies, the lower house, while the far right failed to even run a candidate. That a self-described leftwing party could have such success by fixing on Mexico’s chasmic inequality has drawn attention from hopeful progressives worldwide. But Morena’s programme has some not-so-progressive elements too. It is not necessarily one others could – or would want to – copy in its entirety.
Morena first notched a historic result in 2018, when Andrés Manuel López Obrador, an old face of the left who ran for president twice before founding the party, won a record 55% of the vote during the general elections. Mexico’s constitution limits presidents to a single term. But this time, Claudia Sheinbaum, a close ally of López Obrador’s,
won 60%
of the vote. Her victory was reminiscent of the heyday of Latin America’s “pink tide”, when leftist leaders like Hugo Chávez and Evo Morales were reelected for a second term with more votes than their initial victories.
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