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 highlights the remarkable political landscape in Mexico, where the leftwing governing party, Morena, has not only retained the presidency but also achieved a significant two-thirds supermajority in the Chamber of Deputies during the 2024 elections. This success is particularly striking considering the global trend of incumbents facing challenges and the rise of far-right movements. Under the leadership of Claudia Sheinbaum, a close ally of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Morena has capitalized on the pressing issue of social inequality, which resonates deeply with the Mexican populace. Sheinbaum’s impressive victory, garnering 60% of the vote, echoes the historical successes of leftist leaders during Latin America’s “pink tide,” a period marked by the reelection of progressive figures like Hugo Chávez and Evo Morales.
Despite these achievements, Graham cautions that Morena’s approach to governance is not without its complexities. While the party has made strides in promoting social justice, its pragmatic strategies have sometimes diluted its foundational principles. For instance, while addressing the glaring socio-economic disparities in Mexico, some of Morena’s policies may not align with traditional progressive values, raising questions about their replicability in other contexts. The party’s ability to navigate these tensions has drawn both admiration and skepticism from international observers, particularly among progressive movements looking for models of success. As Mexico’s political climate continues to evolve, the implications of Morena’s governance will be closely watched by those interested in the dynamics of leftist politics in the region and beyond.
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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