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 delves into the political landscape of Mexico, highlighting the remarkable resilience of the left-wing governing party, Morena, in the face of global political trends. As the 2024 election year unfolds, many incumbents worldwide are facing grim prospects, while far-right movements gain traction. However, Mexico presents a striking contrast. Morena not only secured the presidency but also achieved a significant political milestone by gaining a two-thirds supermajority in the chamber of deputies, the lower house of Congress. This success is particularly notable given that the far-right opposition failed to field a candidate, underscoring the unique political dynamics at play in the country.
Morena’s triumph can be attributed to its focus on addressing Mexico’s stark inequality, which resonates with progressive movements around the globe. The party’s roots trace back to 2018 when Andrés Manuel López Obrador, a veteran of the left, won a historic 55% of the vote, marking a significant shift in the political landscape. This year, Claudia Sheinbaum, a close ally of López Obrador and former mayor of Mexico City, further solidified the party’s dominance by winning an impressive 60% of the vote. Her victory is reminiscent of the earlier “pink tide” in Latin America, where leftist leaders like Hugo Chávez and Evo Morales enjoyed overwhelming electoral support during their re-elections.
Despite these achievements, Graham points out that Morena’s approach is not without its complexities. While the party has championed social justice initiatives, it has also diluted some of its core progressive principles in favor of pragmatism. This balancing act raises questions about the sustainability of its policies and whether they can serve as a model for other nations seeking progressive change. As the political climate continues to evolve, the implications of Morena’s governance will be closely watched by both supporters and critics, eager to understand how a left-wing party navigates the challenges of power while striving for social equity in a divided society.
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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