| BARRIOZONA |
| Bilingual Community Expression Published by the Hispanic Institute of Social Issues |
| Mexico - Change in Power |
| Lea la versión en Español |
| SOCIAL COMMENTARY |
| López Obrador Swores Himself as President of Mexico Has the former presidential candidate who officially lost the July 2 election gone too far, and has Mexico's government in allowing him to do so? |
| Text by Mexico City BARRIOZONA's Bureau Photographs by William González - Illustration for BARRIOZONA by Eduardo Gómez Sánchez |
| Hispanic Institute of Social Issues © 2006. All rights reserved. webmaster@hisi.org |
barriozona.com
| INTERACTIVE |
The first pages of a new chapter in
Mexico’s history begin with a familiar word:
fraud; a word written on many pages of
many other chapters in the history of this
nation. The title of this new episode is “July
2nd, 2006”, the date of the most recent
presidential election. Just before, but
absolutely more clearly after the electoral
day, Mexico’s society witnessed a political
struggle aimed at sustaining and gaining
power. Echoes of fraud − a constant in
most Mexican elections − tolled like church
bells calling the people to rise and to
respond, and to act upon a more familiar
and tragic sound: the sound of protest.
Reminiscences of the barefaced fraud of
1988 lingered over 2006’s election, feeding
and reviving people’s sentiment of
frustration, and opening an old wound. A
gash so deep, it actually gives continuity to
Mexican history, and bleeds the necessary
ink for the next chapter, for a new section
of a familiar plot, a repetitive drama, and a
virtually indispensable comedy. In the
midst of this political theatre, the audience
− the Mexican people − does not know
what’s better: to cry or to laugh − a
popular saying so intricately woven in the
fabric of Mexico’s idiosyncrasy, that could
be easily minted in the apocryphal coins of
Mexico’s history begin with a familiar word:
fraud; a word written on many pages of
many other chapters in the history of this
nation. The title of this new episode is “July
2nd, 2006”, the date of the most recent
presidential election. Just before, but
absolutely more clearly after the electoral
day, Mexico’s society witnessed a political
struggle aimed at sustaining and gaining
power. Echoes of fraud − a constant in
most Mexican elections − tolled like church
bells calling the people to rise and to
respond, and to act upon a more familiar
and tragic sound: the sound of protest.
Reminiscences of the barefaced fraud of
1988 lingered over 2006’s election, feeding
and reviving people’s sentiment of
frustration, and opening an old wound. A
gash so deep, it actually gives continuity to
Mexican history, and bleeds the necessary
ink for the next chapter, for a new section
of a familiar plot, a repetitive drama, and a
virtually indispensable comedy. In the
midst of this political theatre, the audience
− the Mexican people − does not know
what’s better: to cry or to laugh − a
popular saying so intricately woven in the
fabric of Mexico’s idiosyncrasy, that could
be easily minted in the apocryphal coins of
Andrés Manuel López Obrador that were circulated as a commemorative souvenir the day of his no less apocryphal
inauguration.
inauguration.
Allegations of an engineered fraud shook Mexico’s assumed social peace. The epicenter of a sociopolitical tremor
cracked the avenue of convergence, splitting the society in two streets of divergence. From underneath the
pavement, the social monster of polarization emerged limping, claiming to be the legitimate victor of a winnerless
election. Duplicated claims of “I am the president” came out of the mouths of the two candidates, ringing in both
ears of those who voted and those who didn’t. And then, a tug of war, where neither group was strong enough to
make the other cross the center line. It took and electoral court to decide who the winner was. After all, only one
candidate can win; there cannot be two presidents; or can there?
cracked the avenue of convergence, splitting the society in two streets of divergence. From underneath the
pavement, the social monster of polarization emerged limping, claiming to be the legitimate victor of a winnerless
election. Duplicated claims of “I am the president” came out of the mouths of the two candidates, ringing in both
ears of those who voted and those who didn’t. And then, a tug of war, where neither group was strong enough to
make the other cross the center line. It took and electoral court to decide who the winner was. After all, only one
candidate can win; there cannot be two presidents; or can there?
According to Andrés Manuel López Obrador − the
former Mexican presidential candidate who officially
lost the election − the issue is not if there can be
two presidents, but who is the legitimate one. Even
though his defeat was confirmed by the Federal
Electoral Judicial Tribunal, he swore himself in as the
“legitimate president” of Mexico. He’s so certain the
victory was his, that he firmly believes he is the
president, this in spite that there is an actual and
official president-elect: Felipe Calderón Hinojosa.
López Obrador not only proclaimed himself as the
genuine president, but also announced the founding
of a new republic, presented a new national flag
using a coat of arms used by President Benito
Juárez in the XIX Century, and introduced his
cabinet.
In a ceremony that took place in the main plaza in
Mexico City – the Zócalo – hundreds of thousands of
Obrador’s followers gathered to witness the rather
unusual event, where López Obrador, who has been
claiming fraud and conspiracy since the July 2nd
election, received the “presidential” sash, which was
placed around his shoulders, a symbol closely tied to
the presidency. The scenario almost did look
legitimate, except Mexican institutions neither
endorsed it nor has an official legitimacy. In his eyes,
he’s the president; in the eyes of the law, he is not.
former Mexican presidential candidate who officially
lost the election − the issue is not if there can be
two presidents, but who is the legitimate one. Even
though his defeat was confirmed by the Federal
Electoral Judicial Tribunal, he swore himself in as the
“legitimate president” of Mexico. He’s so certain the
victory was his, that he firmly believes he is the
president, this in spite that there is an actual and
official president-elect: Felipe Calderón Hinojosa.
López Obrador not only proclaimed himself as the
genuine president, but also announced the founding
of a new republic, presented a new national flag
using a coat of arms used by President Benito
Juárez in the XIX Century, and introduced his
cabinet.
In a ceremony that took place in the main plaza in
Mexico City – the Zócalo – hundreds of thousands of
Obrador’s followers gathered to witness the rather
unusual event, where López Obrador, who has been
claiming fraud and conspiracy since the July 2nd
election, received the “presidential” sash, which was
placed around his shoulders, a symbol closely tied to
the presidency. The scenario almost did look
legitimate, except Mexican institutions neither
endorsed it nor has an official legitimacy. In his eyes,
he’s the president; in the eyes of the law, he is not.
Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, the man institutions, and the highest electoral authority of Mexico said he is the
legitimate winner. The actual president-elect will take oath on Friday, December 1st. That is if López Obrador’s
party, the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), allows him to do so. They are, as a political entity of growing
presence and strength, as convinced as their former candidate that there was major fraud that stole the
presidential election from them. Based on that notion, López Obrador as well as the PRD, have vowed to impede
the official president-elect from the National Action Party (PAN) to be sworn in. They also have determined to make
life miserable for Calderón Hinojosa if he becomes president, and assure that he won’t finish his six-year term.
López Obrador probably could have accomplished more by fighting in the social arena as an activist, as a leader of
the people, as a community wrestler in favor of a crowd starving for justice and economic equality. The poor were
there ready to be reaped by a true social warrior. He chose to play president instead, to stubbornly install himself
in the most ridiculous and scandalous act in the trail of absurd, silly, and infective strategies seeking to change the
outcome of an election won at all costs by the party in power. Was there fraud? Was López Obrador robbed the
presidency? Isn’t he a politician who also knows about unscrupulous tactics and dirty political tricks? Isn’t he
himself plotting to prevent Calderon Hinojosa from taking oath, or from finishing his term? He should not be
surprised at how Mexican politics operate.
López Obrador was able to seize the hunger and thirst of the poor and less privileged people. His banner and his
doctrine are as valid as the people’s demands for better economic opportunities and social justice. If he wanted to
fight for them, he obviously chose the wrong job. Couldn’t he be a Martin Luther King, Jr. or a Cesar Chavez, a
social activist to bring about the changes he seeks in the political arena? He wanted to be president at all costs as
well, so we know being an activist is not his avenue. Everything in him points out to a man who dreams of power,
and who may be using and manipulating the needy and less educated people for his own gain. Perhaps López
Obrador hasn’t realized it yet, but by making himself the president, he’ll never be a legitimate one. Time will reveal
right and wrong perceptions about him, but most likely they will confirm López Obrador was a fake as the coins
circulated in his “inauguration.” Whatever amount of sincerity and honesty he may have had was shattered by his
own fantasies of power.
legitimate winner. The actual president-elect will take oath on Friday, December 1st. That is if López Obrador’s
party, the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), allows him to do so. They are, as a political entity of growing
presence and strength, as convinced as their former candidate that there was major fraud that stole the
presidential election from them. Based on that notion, López Obrador as well as the PRD, have vowed to impede
the official president-elect from the National Action Party (PAN) to be sworn in. They also have determined to make
life miserable for Calderón Hinojosa if he becomes president, and assure that he won’t finish his six-year term.
López Obrador probably could have accomplished more by fighting in the social arena as an activist, as a leader of
the people, as a community wrestler in favor of a crowd starving for justice and economic equality. The poor were
there ready to be reaped by a true social warrior. He chose to play president instead, to stubbornly install himself
in the most ridiculous and scandalous act in the trail of absurd, silly, and infective strategies seeking to change the
outcome of an election won at all costs by the party in power. Was there fraud? Was López Obrador robbed the
presidency? Isn’t he a politician who also knows about unscrupulous tactics and dirty political tricks? Isn’t he
himself plotting to prevent Calderon Hinojosa from taking oath, or from finishing his term? He should not be
surprised at how Mexican politics operate.
López Obrador was able to seize the hunger and thirst of the poor and less privileged people. His banner and his
doctrine are as valid as the people’s demands for better economic opportunities and social justice. If he wanted to
fight for them, he obviously chose the wrong job. Couldn’t he be a Martin Luther King, Jr. or a Cesar Chavez, a
social activist to bring about the changes he seeks in the political arena? He wanted to be president at all costs as
well, so we know being an activist is not his avenue. Everything in him points out to a man who dreams of power,
and who may be using and manipulating the needy and less educated people for his own gain. Perhaps López
Obrador hasn’t realized it yet, but by making himself the president, he’ll never be a legitimate one. Time will reveal
right and wrong perceptions about him, but most likely they will confirm López Obrador was a fake as the coins
circulated in his “inauguration.” Whatever amount of sincerity and honesty he may have had was shattered by his
own fantasies of power.
| López Obrador: nor a mesiah nor president. |
| Playing President |
| Lea la versión en Español |
| HISI © 2006 |