AMLO Comes Out of Retirement to Defend Successor
Former Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador (commonly referred to as AMLO) has re-entered the public discourse with a letter supporting his successor, Claudia Sheinbaum, as well as several politicians linked to drug cartels. In his note, he suggests that the recent accusations against members of his MORENA political party are politically driven, intended to bolster the opposition’s stance.
In the letter shared on social media and widely circulated within his party, López Obrador accuses far-right factions of aiming to restore corrupt politicians who serve foreign interests rather than those of Mexico.
Interestingly, AMLO’s letter steers clear of addressing the serious allegations mentioned in a criminal complaint regarding his close associate, Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha Moya. He also omits discussions about other cartel-associated accusations directed at additional governors and MORENA politicians.
Furthermore, reports indicate that some of MORENA’s leaders are implicated in cartel financing, and during their governance, domestic violence has reached alarming heights, contradicting even the government’s own optimistic statistics.
In his letter, López Obrador portrays Trump, whom he has interacted with in the past, as a reasonable figure and a friend of Mexico. He believes that collaboration could help tackle immigration issues. Yet, it’s worth noting that under his administration, human smuggling and trafficking have thrived, becoming lucrative avenues for the cartels and leading to a humanitarian crisis central to Trump’s campaign narrative. AMLO also reminisces about their joint efforts concerning markets and tariffs, though he neglects to mention the New World screwworm issue that he inadvertently allowed to escalate in Mexico, now threatening the ranching economy in Texas, as highlighted by recent reports.
AMLO has openly criticized the far-right for influencing Trump during his second presidential term, urging him to revert to the leadership style he displayed in his first term. It seems he hopes that a return to that earlier approach could yield better results for both nations.
