Mexico /
Claudia Sheinbaum She took the reins of the country as the most powerful presidential heiress in the history of the Republic. Not only is she the first woman to break the traditional Mexican political mold, she also did so with full political and popular power, and with the absolute support of her predecessor, as has not been seen for a century.
To chain the narrative of the transformations, it was the Andrés Manuel López Obrador the first to compare this presidential succession with the one that lived through the six-year term of Lázaro Cárdenas: between opposition campaigns against the head of the Executive, reforms that have generated disagreements and resistance, foreign intervention in these internal political changes, and the decision of the American ambassador between getting involved or acting “with wisdom and skill.”
On March 18, 2023, before the three Morenoist presidential candidates, including her current successor, López Obrador was clear when equating his six-year term with that of 1934, with a presidential transition that had at stake not only maintaining power but also a replacement that would guarantee continuity, but which failed at that time.
“The opposition was such that Cárdenas had to act with caution and possibly, that influenced him to support the candidacy of Manuel Ávila Camacho and not that of General Francisco J. Múgica, with whom he had more ideological affinity and represented a greater certainty of continuity. “It has always been said that the general did not opt for Múgica due to the risk of foreign intervention.”
“But the presidential election was complicated and violent. The opposition candidate gave up, but right-wing politicians agreed to concessions and perks with the new government of Ávila Camacho. If with Porfirio Díaz the peace of the tombs prevailed, After the government of President Cárdenas, the peace of compromises and corruption was established. That is why today, we exclaim to the four winds: no zigzagging. I am convinced that whoever is successful in electing a candidate for our movement will apply the same policy in favor of the people,” he said between applause and a clear mandate that the then candidates assumed.
Claudia Sheinbaum thus has the mission of amending “the betrayal” from a century ago and not move away from the people, those practices that they made subsequent presidents illegitimate heirs in the eyes of their predecessors for throwing overboard the political testament that was assigned to them.
And he fulfilled this in his first speech in San Lázaro. With a presidential sash that left ties behind and posed for the first time on a white dress, The new president compared the historic act that she led with the time of Lázaro Cárdenas.
“Andrés Manuel López Obrador is the most important political leader and social fighter in modern history, the most beloved president only comparable to Lázaro Cárdenas.”
On September 1, in his last massive political speech in the capital’s main square, López Obrador handed over the popular inheritance to Claudia Sheinbaumfilled her with praise, making it clear that unlike Lázaro Cárdenas, he trusted that she would not betray continuity. So much so that he went from receiving cheers to being the one inciting them, to make it clear that their faces were changing and that he himself would be the first to applaud her.
“I am leaving calm because to whom I will hand over the presidential sash by mandate of the people, she is an exceptional woman, experienced, honest and above all, with good feelings, with a good heart, related to the founding principles of our transformation movement and a true defender of equality, freedom, justice, democracy and sovereignty: Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, President! President!”he chanted before his loyal followers.
After the first six-year presidency in 1934, the era of “the covered ones” began, starting with Miguel Alemán in a failed attempt to influence the six-year term of Adolfo Ruiz Cortines. Which gave way to a practice in which the incoming president committed to continuity for laterlittle by little, put an end to the traces of power of his predecessor.
“Each head of the Executive Branch that is being renewed, in turn, works hard to do their part and lay the foundations to continue with the next stage,” said Gustavo Díaz Ordaz upon receiving power from the hands of Adolfo López Mateos.
Until in 1994, after the assassination of Luis Donaldo Colosio, a new stage in the presidential replacement began, with candidates who were not those chosen by the president in turn and who completely broke with them, such as Ernesto Zedillo. What continued with the transition of the PAN members Vicente Fox and Felipe Calderón, and the return of the PRI with Enrique Pena Nietocharacterized by being presidents who did not even support their parties’ candidates.
Until the arrival of Andrés Manuel López Obrador in 2018, reviving the revolutionary spirit, with the idea of imposing his movement as the fourth transformation of the country. And that at the end of his six-year term he needed two essential requirements: a solid social base and a successor similar to the ideals of what he calls “the peaceful revolution of consciousness.”
With the vision of López Obrador, yesterday’s presidential replacement took place with the spirit of Cardenism and the third transformation of the country, in order to strengthen the basis of his movement: place the fourth transformation in the history of Mexico. With an additional historical seal: the second floor, continuity in the hands of women.
This is how Claudia Sheinbaum assumed the Presidency of the Republic. In a succession full of seals and changes: anticipating his arrival to power by two months and leaving behind the December 1 imposed for 90 years, the first time that it is not a man who will lead the country, with the dominance of the three Powers of the Union, with a legitimate victory, with the surrender of all the leaders of its movement, and the majority popular acceptance and support. As the legitimate heir and the most powerful.
RM
