In this installment of RADICALES the topic of the reappearance of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador and the reactions it generated was addressed. Instead of discussing the content of the work, the opposition and right-wing groups in Mexico concentrated on making speculations, forced readings and trying to revive old ghosts about a supposed “maximato” of the Tabasco native.
Mexico City, December 2 (However).- The public reappearance of the former president Andrés Manuel López Obradorthrough a video shared on social networks where he announced the publication of his new book, once again shook the political scene in Mexico and ignited the most radical and visceral side of the opposition, the journalists agreed. Daniela Barragán, Meme Yamel and the journalists Álvaro Delgado and Héctor Alejandro Quintanar.
For Héctor Alejandro Quintanar, this episode clearly portrays the level to which the opposition debatewhich focuses on disqualification and aggression.
“The reaction to López Obrador’s message has been very representative of how this opposition understands politics in Mexico, which is at a very poor level… the former president came out to announce a book and very little was said about the content; there was more talk about the situation, about trying to decipher what hidden message there is due to the fact that it came out this weekend and not another.”
The academic pointed out that all these interpretations return to the same twisted idea that the opposition has: that López Obrador continues to govern behind Claudia Sheinbaum.
“In López Obrador’s personal history we have never had the slightest indication of re-election intentions or of prolonging his mandate… or of imposing wills on his successors,” he stated.
Journalist Meme Yamel agreed that this opposition sector has systematically ignored the former president’s word.
“They don’t know the value of the word. Since López Obrador said ‘I’m not going to be re-elected,’ we heard ‘He’s going to be re-elected.’ Even as a former president, they assure that with the revocation of his mandate he will return as President.”
Meme pointed out that the date chosen by the man from Tabasco to share the video on his social networks is not a surprise either.
“We knew there was going to be a book… it is no coincidence: it comes out one day before the seven years since he took office as President and a week before the march in favor of the President.” And he warns about a growing phenomenon: “I am seeing new generations of analysts on networks wanting to play at being very intellectual.”
For her part, Daniela Barragán stressed the political value of the message, beyond the mere public appearance:
“It was very important that he said that there will not be a tour of public squares; it makes a lot of sense with the decision to withdraw.”
The journalist also asked to pay special attention to the hate messages towards President Claudia Sheinbaum, which she described as a misogynistic narrative.
“I am surprised at how this very misogynistic narrative has spread for so long… that Claudia Sheinbaum only came to receive orders. It is very important that López Obrador says: ‘if I return it is to close ranks behind the President.'” According to Barragán, it is also an internal wink: “I think it is a message for Morena, a very subtle call for attention.”
Álvaro Delgado, for his part, considers that what was relevant was not the video or the book, but what it unleashed: “It unleashed anger, fury and so many expressions of hatred… a sector of Mexicans is imploring foreign intervention. Those are the ones who reacted with the greatest virulence.”
Finally, Álvaro Delgado pointed out that the most relevant thing was not the video, nor the book, nor even the former president’s message, but the reaction it provoked. He points out that what emerged was overflowing fury, expressions of hatred and a mood that is no longer limited to political disagreement.
“The overwhelming defeat that they have been suffering… makes them express their anger and hatred, not only against their political contenders, but against those who they believe are part of the same coalition.”
And he warns: “What this portends is that they will continue to be defeated and will become even more violent.”
Delgado mentioned that part of that opposition has even gone so far as to ask for the intervention of the United States Government in Mexico’s internal affairs, and that it was precisely those sectors that responded most virulently to the reappearance of López Obrador.