Sheinbaum Draws Parallels Between Historic Porfiriato and Modern Extremism During Revolution Day Address
Mexico City – In a fiery speech delivered during the commemoration of the Mexican Revolution, President Claudia Sheinbaum equated the historical Porfiriato regime with contemporary far-right movements, asserting that Mexico must not regress to a past marked by inequality and oppression. Sheinbaum’s address, given before her cabinet and representatives of the armed forces, served as a direct rebuke of her political opponents and a reaffirmation of her administration’s commitment to social justice.
The President began by stating unequivocally, “Mexico will not walk backwards again. Peace and tranquility are the fruit of justice.” She condemned rhetoric that “normalizes violence as a path, that glorifies imposition or that seeks to restore a country of privileges for a few,” arguing that those who advocate for such ideologies are fundamentally mistaken.
Sheinbaum specifically characterized the Porfiriato – the long rule of Porfirio Díaz, which ended with the 1910 Revolution – as a period of “dispossession, silent extermination, that of slavery, that of a silent press, an imposed peace.” She contrasted this with the current “transformation,” accusing previous administrations of the last 36 years of fostering “regressions, poverty, inequality, corruption and privileges” during a “neoliberal period.”
The President focused her criticism on the “extreme right,” dismissing their perspectives as rooted in corruption and dishonesty. “Nothing good can come from those who have made corruption their way of life,” she stated, “nothing can be expected, from some media that use their space for slander, from some commentators who change their opinions according to their convenience.”
Sheinbaum further linked the struggles of the Mexican Revolution to present-day challenges, declaring, “he who believes that women are weak is wrong; he who believes that the transformation sleeps is wrong; he who thinks that campaigns of slander and lies have an impact on the people and young people is wrong; he who thinks that the people are stupid is wrong.” She asserted that Mexico is now experiencing a period of unprecedented progress, where “power is no longer used to submit but to serve.”
Calling for national unity, Sheinbaum emphasized the importance of shared principles, stating, “our history has shown it time and again, when we walk together with principles that have guided us, nothing stops us.” She described a Mexico advancing with “dignity and memory,” guided by “honesty, peace, democracy and justice.”
The President also addressed concerns about freedoms, asserting that they are no longer “granted from above” but “exercised from below, from each neighborhood, from each community, each voice that speaks with dignity because in Mexico no one is silenced or persecuted for thinking differently.” She emphasized that her government represents all citizens, “those who study, work, merchants, young people, indigenous people and women, but above all those who have the least, the humble to achieve their well-being.”
Sheinbaum underscored a shift away from extravagance in governance, emphasizing “austerity, with ethics, honesty.” She boldly stated that “moral authority cannot be bought with all the money in the world, it is built throughout life with coherence and convictions.” She maintained that her administration is being targeted with slander precisely because of its integrity and refusal to yield to vested interests, “Nor to any foreign government or interest.”
Secretary of National Defense, Ricardo Trevilla, highlighted the historical significance of the Mexican Revolution in shaping the identity and social purpose of the Mexican army and air force. He also noted the international recognition of the Army’s DNIII Plan, citing its recent deployment in emergency relief efforts following heavy rains across several states, where the air force conducted the largest airlift in Mexican history, utilizing 23 aircraft to deliver essential supplies.
The commemoration took place in the Zócalo of Mexico City, where President Sheinbaum reviewed thousands of members of the armed forces. Security was heightened due to planned demonstrations, including a march organized by a group calling itself “Generation Z,” leading to a shortened parade route, concluding at the Monument to the Revolution instead of Campo Marte.
