What can the global left learn from Mexico – where far-right politics hasn’t taken off? | Thomas Graham
In a compelling analysis of Mexico’s political landscape, journalist Thomas Graham highlights the remarkable achievements of the left-wing governing party, Morena, during the 2024 election year. Contrary to global trends that often see incumbents struggling and the far-right gaining ground, Morena not only retained the presidency but also secured a two-thirds supermajority in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Congress. This success is particularly striking given that the far-right failed to field a candidate, allowing Morena and its coalition partners in the Sigamos Haciendo Historia movement to dominate the electoral scene. The party’s focus on addressing Mexico’s stark social inequalities has resonated with voters, drawing attention from progressives around the world who view Morena’s approach as a potential model for social justice initiatives.
However, Graham points out that Morena’s path to success is not without its complexities. While the party has championed social justice, its pragmatic approach has led to a dilution of its foundational principles. The historic electoral victory in 2018, when Andrés Manuel López Obrador won with an unprecedented 55% of the vote, set the stage for a leftist resurgence reminiscent of Latin America’s “pink tide.” This trend continued with Claudia Sheinbaum, a close ally of López Obrador, who achieved an impressive 60% of the vote in the recent elections. Yet, despite these achievements, the party’s policies and strategies include elements that may not align with the traditional progressive agenda, raising questions about the sustainability and replicability of its model. As the political landscape evolves, the implications of Morena’s governance will be closely watched by both supporters and critics alike, as they navigate the balance between idealism and pragmatism in pursuit of social equity.
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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