All through his administration, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) has painted a bleak image throughout many key features of his authorities. His guarantees of a «Fourth Transformation» aimed toward ending corruption, violence, and financial points haven’t solely gone unfulfilled however have plunged Mexico into an unprecedented disaster.
Right this moment, in gentle of the outcomes, López Obrador is seen by many as a narcopresident who neither listened to nor addressed the considerations raised by northern neighbors like the US on important points resembling safety, border management, immigration, and drug trafficking.
Safety and Violence: The Bloodiest Six-12 months Time period
Certainly one of López Obrador’s best failures has been his safety coverage, marked by escalating violence that has made his time period the bloodiest in trendy Mexican historical past.
It’s estimated that beneath his rule, greater than 200,000 folks have been murdered, making his administration one of many deadliest since 1976. AMLO’s «hugs, not bullets» technique, promoted early in his tenure, was seen as a solution to keep away from direct confrontation with organized crime.
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Nevertheless, removed from decreasing violence, this coverage allowed the cartels to strengthen their territorial management. Warnings from the US concerning the rising affect of the cartels on the southern border and the dearth of cooperation within the combat in opposition to medication had been ignored by AMLO, who stood agency in his sovereignty-focused rhetoric, rejecting intervention in safety issues.
Between January and June 2023, Mexico recorded 15,082 homicides, in keeping with preliminary knowledge not too long ago launched by the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI).
With these numbers, Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s authorities has gathered 160,594 homicides in his first 4 and a half years in workplace, surpassing the report set by Enrique Peña Nieto. In keeping with INEGI data, 156,066 homicides had been reported throughout Peña Nieto’s administration.
The variety of homicides recorded throughout Peña Nieto’s time period had been the best since INEGI started conserving these data in 1990.
With 15,082 homicides reported within the first six months of 2023, López Obrador’s authorities has surpassed Peña Nieto’s whole by over 4,000 murders, and his time period nonetheless has a yr and a half to go.
Though the info remains to be preliminary and might be adjusted within the coming months, López Obrador’s administration has already set a murder report.
INEGI knowledge additionally reveals that earlier administrations recorded the next murder numbers:
- Ernesto Zedillo (1994-2000): 80,671
- Vicente Fox (2000-2006): 60,280
- Felipe Calderón (2006-2012): 120,463
Moreover, the Executive Secretariat of the National Public Security System (SESNSP) had already reported a rise in homicides throughout López Obrador’s administration. Between December 2018 and October 2023, 161,527 victims of intentional homicides had been recorded, representing a 17.65% increase compared to the 137,286 homicides registered throughout Peña Nieto’s time period.
In keeping with the newest SESNSP knowledge, by December 2023, the whole variety of intentional homicides beneath López Obrador’s authorities reached 166,193, marking a 21% enhance in comparison with Peña Nieto’s six-year time period.
Drug Trafficking and Relations with the US
López Obrador’s disregard for U.S. warnings about drug trafficking, particularly fentanyl, which has wreaked havoc within the neighboring nation, has generated appreciable diplomatic tensions. Washington has repeatedly acknowledged that Mexico has not carried out sufficient to curb drug trafficking, significantly the move of fentanyl northward.
Nevertheless, as a substitute of taking decisive motion, AMLO has responded with nationalist rhetoric, claiming that Mexico isn’t a fentanyl producer regardless of proof of clandestine labs on Mexican soil. This angle has eroded belief between the 2 nations on a important situation of safety and public well being.
In his well-known mañaneras (morning press conferences), AMLO denied any hyperlink with drug trafficking, accusing others of «slandering» him.
On February 22, 2024, The New York Times revealed an article in Spanish overlaying an investigation in Mexico relating to drug trafficking and its ties to Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration.
The report highlights an investigation into the potential connection between AMLO’s authorities and drug trafficking. Regardless of the administration’s claims of dedication to combating organized crime, the investigation means that high-ranking officers could have been concerned in unlawful actions associated to drug trafficking.
Proof of corruption and complicity has surfaced, indicating that sure authorities members could have facilitated drug trafficking operations in alternate for political or monetary favors.
The investigation additionally means that AMLO’s insurance policies have contributed to elevated impunity for prison teams. Regardless of guarantees to combat crime and enhance safety, the administration has confronted criticism for its lack of efficient motion and for pursuing insurance policies which have didn’t resolve Mexico’s points with violence and corruption.
The article concludes by highlighting the rising public and political stress on the president to take extra concrete and clear measures within the combat in opposition to drug trafficking and corruption inside his administration.
Peace Technique: «Hugs, Not Bullets»
Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s safety technique has been completely inconsistent between his rhetoric and actions. AMLO promised a peace-focused coverage however, in observe, his authorities elevated the militarization of public safety, primarily by means of the creation of the Nationwide Guard.
This strategy has not solely perpetuated violence however has additionally weakened civilian establishments. Critics argue that militarization, removed from fixing structural safety issues, has worsened the disaster, reflecting a scarcity of clear imaginative and prescient for strengthening the rule of regulation.
Regardless of his pledge to maneuver away from confrontational insurance policies, AMLO has fallen into the identical errors as earlier governments, leading to elevated violence. His strategy has diverted sources and a focus from simpler options, resembling funding in civilian establishments and the strengthening of the judicial system.
Militarization, removed from providing an answer, has deepened insecurity and been seen as an indication of the federal government’s incapacity to ship on its peace guarantees.
In the meantime, in Mexico:
«Don’t go to high school since you would possibly get killed.»
It’s unbelievable…
Corruption: An Empty Promise
One of many principal pillars of López Obrador’s marketing campaign was the promise to finish corruption. Nevertheless, by the tip of his time period, corruption stays a systemic situation in Mexico.
Throughout Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s six-year time period, corruption in Mexico reached alarming ranges, with misappropriations exceeding 26 billion pesos.
In keeping with the report from Mexicanos Contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad (MCCI), in 16 analyzed corruption circumstances, solely 40% of these concerned have been investigated or prosecuted, whereas the remaining 60% stay unaccountable. Out of the 85 folks prosecuted, solely eight have undergone the total authorized course of. The decision of those circumstances exhibits minimal progress, with a median of simply 25%, reflecting persistent impunity.
The report additionally notes that whereas some circumstances from Enrique Peña Nieto’s time period are nonetheless ongoing, the present authorities has not proven important progress within the combat in opposition to corruption.
Regardless of AMLO’s repeated claims that «corruption is over,» scandals have continued to mar his administration and people near him.
The folks of Mexico communicate within the polls:
AMLO has been criticized for shielding people in his inside circle, whereas the Lawyer Basic’s Workplace has been accused of selectively concentrating on political opponents.
The clearest instance is his brother, Pío López Obrador, who was caught on video receiving money, a case that was by no means totally investigated.
Regardless of his speeches on integrity and honesty, the notion of corruption in Mexico has remained largely unchanged.
Financial system: The Worst Efficiency Since 1976
Within the financial sphere, López Obrador’s guarantees have additionally fallen brief. Upon taking workplace, AMLO promised that Mexico would develop by 6% yearly and obtain vitality and meals self-sufficiency.
Nevertheless, the fact has been fairly totally different. Underneath his management, financial progress has been just about nonexistent, with the worst efficiency since 1976. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the state of affairs, however even earlier than it, AMLO’s financial insurance policies—characterised by the cancellation of key tasks just like the Texcoco airport and uncertainty for personal funding—had already weakened the economic system.
Throughout the first six months of Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s time period, Mexico’s economic system confronted severe challenges. Regardless of his guarantees of progress and prosperity, AMLO’s administration noticed stagnation in international funding and a slowdown in financial progress.
The federal government’s financial insurance policies, together with adjustments within the vitality sector and the cancellation of main infrastructure tasks just like the Texcoco airport, created uncertainty amongst traders and harm market confidence. This unstable surroundings contributed to slower financial exercise and a bleak outlook for the nation’s growth.
Moreover, the Mexican economy has struggled with rising unemployment and protracted inflation, which has negatively impacted residents’ buying energy. The shortage of clear and efficient methods to handle these financial points has worsened the state of affairs, displaying an financial administration that has but to fulfill the expectations of progress and stability promised by the president.
Power and meals self-sufficiency, which had been priorities in his speeches, had been by no means achieved. Mexico stays closely reliant on meals and gas imports, and the state oil firm PEMEX continues to face precarious monetary situations. Moreover, the nation’s fiscal deficit has grown, making a ticking time bomb that the subsequent authorities must defuse.
Pharaonic and Unproductive Initiatives
One other side of AMLO’s legacy is his obsession with massive infrastructure tasks, which have been broadly criticized for his or her lack of financial and social viability. The three principal tasks of his administration—Dos Bocas refinery, Felipe Ángeles Worldwide Airport (AIFA), and the Maya Practice—have been described as pointless and dear, not solely consuming huge quantities of public sources but in addition dealing with huge viability points.
AIFA, for instance, has struggled to draw industrial flights and continues to function properly beneath its capability.
One thing solely a Mexican might perceive, we snigger at our personal misfortune:
Dos Bocas, then again, has price rather more than anticipated, and consultants doubt it’ll make Mexico self-sufficient in gas manufacturing.
¡¡¡Unbelievable!!! Within the September sixteenth parade…
Was it a parade celebrating Mexico’s independence? Or a parade of failures?
Human Rights: Journalists and Looking out Moms Ignored
AMLO’s administration may even be remembered as one of the crucial harmful for the press. Mexico has solidified its place as one of the crucial harmful nations to observe journalism, with dozens of journalists murdered throughout his time period.
Regardless of fixed complaints from worldwide organizations, López Obrador has opted to disqualify important press, calling them «fifí press» or «conservative.»
El Economista reported on the difficulty:
Within the final 5 years, Mexico has witnessed a rising menace to freedom of expression beneath AMLO’s detached administration, which boasts of being humanitarian. It is a regime that considers itself leftist however is insensitive to assaults on journalists, whereas it’s lively in discrediting adversarial media and the press.
This hostility towards the media has created a local weather of worry and intimidation. In the meantime, the madres buscadoras (looking out moms)—teams of ladies trying to find their disappeared kids—have been ignored and typically criminalized by a authorities that prefers to downplay the humanitarian tragedy of pressured disappearances.
A Judiciary Underneath Siege and Diplomatic Disaster
Lastly, López Obrador has directed his populist rhetoric in direction of the judiciary, accusing it of being on the service of «conservatives» and an impediment to his authorities. The makes an attempt to weaken judicial independence have been fixed, creating tensions with the Supreme Courtroom and different judicial our bodies.
Furthermore, Mexico’s relationship with its principal commerce companions, like the US and Canada, has deteriorated on account of López Obrador’s unilateral insurance policies, particularly relating to vitality, resulting in a number of commerce disputes beneath the United States-Mexico-Canada Settlement (USMCA).
That is the place the subject of Judicial Reform is available in to cap off a time period completely tending towards dictatorship, or no less than paving the best way for Sheinbaum to take over and set up a full dictatorship:
The controversy over the reform not solely has political implications but in addition social ones, as many see this measure as an try to manage the judiciary and consolidate the affect of López Obrador’s authorities.
Judicial independence has been one of many pillars of democracy in Mexico, and any try to weaken it generates sturdy opposition from numerous sectors of society.
Allow us to study, Mexicans, from reforms already examined:
AMLO’s legacy might be summarized as a collection of damaged guarantees, important deterioration in a number of key features of nationwide life, and a rustic extra divided and violent than when he took workplace.
His administration didn’t eradicate corruption, scale back violence, or enhance the economic system. Quite the opposite, Mexico has skilled one in every of its worst intervals when it comes to human rights, economic system, and safety.
What’s coming with Sheinbaum’s left seems to be even worse, with an alarming fiscal deficit, a polarized political class, and a rustic more and more dominated by organized crime.
That is the state of affairs….
Joana Campos es abogada y editora con más de 10 años de experiencia en la gestión de proyectos de desarrollo internacional, enfocada en la sostenibilidad y el impacto social positivo. Actualmente dirige JC Editorial, donde ha coordinado la edición y distribución de libros de reconocidos autores internacionales y la logística de numerosas giras nacionales. Además, se desempeña como Administradora Basic en Medicina Integradora, gestionando la clínica y generando proyectos en diversas áreas. Anteriormente, trabajó como abogada corporativa, especializándose en derecho penal y corporativo. Joana es licenciada en Derecho por la Universidad de Guadalajara.
Joana Campos is a lawyer and editor with over 10 years of expertise in managing worldwide growth tasks, specializing in sustainability and constructive social impression. She presently leads JC Editorial, the place she has coordinated the modifying and distribution of books by famend worldwide authors and managed the logistics of quite a few nationwide excursions. Moreover, she serves because the Basic Administrator at Medicina Integradora, overseeing the clinic and producing tasks in numerous areas. Beforehand, she labored as a company lawyer, specializing in prison and company regulation. Joana holds a regulation diploma from the College of Guadalajara.