Against López Obrador. Massive “pink march” in Mexico to protect democracy in the face of the government’s progress on electoral justice

MEXICO CITY.- Thousands of protesters dressed in pink marched through cities in Mexico and abroad on Sunday in what they called a “march for democracy” directed at the country’s ruling party to ask the president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) to “not intervene in the electoral process” before the June 2 elections.

Demonstrations called by Mexico’s opposition parties advocated for free and fair elections in the Latin American nation and criticized corruption after the presidential favorite, Claudia Sheinbaumwill officially register his candidacy for the ruling party, Morena, this Sunday.

Pink flags along with others from Mexico make up the demonstration for democracyVICTOR MENDIOLA – AFP

Sheinbaum is largely seen as the continuation candidate of the very popular leftist president AMLO. Supported by many voters who say he ousted the country’s elite parties from power in 2018 and represents the working class, the 70-year-old president has also been accused of taking steps that endanger the country’s democracy.

Last year, the president cut funding for the country’s electoral agency, the National Electoral Institute, and weakened the supervision of campaign spending, something that, according to the director of the INE, could cause damage to democracy itself. The agency’s color, pink, has been used as a symbol by protesters.

López Obrador has also attacked journalists in hours-long press conferences, he has frequently attacked the judiciary of Mexico and has stated that the judges are part of a conservative conspiracy against their government.

On Sunday in Mexico City, thousands of people dressed in pink flocked to the Zócalo, Mexico City’s main square, shouting “López out.” Others carried signs that said “the power of the people is greater than the people with power.”

“Our democracy is not touched”read another banner displayed on the platform where several leaders gave speeches less than three months before the elections.

“We want our votes to count and to live in a true democracy”he stated to The country Natalia Carrillo, 28 years old. “This is not against the president, but it is true that the line between opposing the Government and defending our rights is becoming increasingly blurred.”

The organizers said that some 700.000 personas attended Mexico City, potentially marking one of the largest protests against López Obrador as his administration nears its end.

Among the opposition organizations that marched were the National Civic Front, Sí por México, Poder Ciudadano, Sociedad Civil México, UNE México and Unidos por México. Many assured that It was a non-partisan mobilization to emphasize that the pink tide represented democracy.

“Democracy does not solve water, it does not solve hunger, it does not solve many things. But without democracy nothing can be solved“said Enrique de la Madrid Cordero, a prominent politician from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), in a video posted on social media calling on people to join the demonstration.

People participate in the opposition march “For our democracy” called by several organizations to demand a “free vote” in the upcoming presidential elections on June 2, in the Zócalo square in Mexico City on February 18, 2024.VICTOR MENDIOLA – AFP

The PRI maintained uninterrupted power in Mexico for more than 70 years.

Marches were organized in a hundred cities throughout the country, and in other cities in the United States and Spain.

The conservative Xóchitl Gálvez, considered one of the main opposition candidates, said in a press conference two days ago that she would not participate in the mobilization, not because she was against it, but due to the “political risk” that his presence would representsince Morena could “report” it to the electoral authorities. “I will not give you the pleasure of withdrawing my candidacy”said Galvez.

“This is a march for the defense of democracy, of its institutions”Gálvez stressed in a video broadcast on his social networks.

Popularity

Still, the president remains very popular and his ally Sheinbaum appears to have a relatively easy path to the presidency, given that he leads the polls by a whopping 64% over its closest competitionGálvez, who would obtain 31% of the votes.

“Hoy I registered as a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic And from this scenario, I make a broad call to the people of Mexico to consolidate and deepen the Fourth Transformation of public life. That means continuing to build an even more just, free, fraternal and democratic Mexico to achieve the full right of each and every Mexican to their well-being, security and happiness,” Sheinbaum posted on the social network he.

Today I registered as a candidate for the Presidency of the Republic and from this stage, I make a broad call to the people of Mexico to consolidate and deepen the Fourth Transformation of public life. That means continuing to build an even more just, free, Mexico… pic.twitter.com/5D2Wm7JEtT

— Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum (@Claudiashein) February 18, 2024

López Obrador criticized the protests during his Friday morning news conference and questioned whether organizers cared about democracy.

“They are calling for the demonstration to defend corruption because that is what they are essentially looking for, let the corrupt return, even if they say they care about democracy“said the president.

Agencies ANSA, AP, Reuters and newspaper The country

THE NATION

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MexicoAndrés Manuel López Obrador

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