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 sheds light on the recent successes of the left-wing governing party, Morena, amidst a global backdrop of electoral challenges for incumbents. In the 2024 election year, while many countries are witnessing a rise in far-right sentiments, Mexico has managed to defy this trend. Morena, under the leadership of Claudia Sheinbaum, not only retained the presidency but also expanded its influence by securing a two-thirds supermajority in the Chamber of Deputies. This remarkable achievement is particularly noteworthy given that the far-right opposition failed to field a candidate, highlighting a unique political dynamic in the country. Morena’s focus on addressing Mexico’s deep-rooted inequality has resonated with voters, capturing the attention of progressive movements worldwide.
However, while Morena’s platform emphasizes social justice, Graham points out that it is not without its contradictions. The party’s pragmatic approach has led to a dilution of some of its core principles, raising questions about the sustainability of its progressive agenda. Since its inception, Morena has been associated with the charismatic leadership of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who first won the presidency in 2018 with a historic 55% of the vote. Now, with Sheinbaum’s impressive 60% victory, the party appears to be riding a wave reminiscent of the “pink tide” in Latin America, where leftist leaders enjoyed significant electoral support. Yet, the complexities of Morena’s governance, which may include elements that are not universally appealing or replicable, suggest that its model of success could be difficult for other progressive parties to emulate. As the political landscape continues to evolve, the future of Morena and its impact on social justice in Mexico remains a critical area of observation for both national and international audiences.
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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