Antonio Navalón
We never had the opportunity to ask ourselves if the correct reading of the ultimate message of Jesus Christ in his coming to Earth was made by the radical Paul or that of the stone on which he built his church, Peter. Both were very different characters, like each of the twelve disciples that Jesus Christ chose, and were vital to the development and consolidation of Christianity. Paul, also known as Saul of Tarsus, was a man who – before his iconic conversion – had been an executioner in the name of Jewish orthodoxy. It was not until the fall from his horse on his way to Damascus and the appearance of a voice that asked him, “Paul, Paul, why do you persecute me?” that the Apostle Paul became one of the most radical defenders of Christ and Christianity. In any case, the combination of both characters and the effectiveness and permeability of the message of the Son of God becoming man guaranteed, with the sum of many, the success of Christianity.
The best way to be loyal is to succeed. Whether in Tlalpan or wherever he is today, it is difficult to assume that former President López Obrador has ceased to serve as the country’s leader. The greatest joy that the one chosen to replace him – first by him and consequently by more than 30 million Mexicans – can give him is to continue to triumph. To achieve this, Dr. Sheinbaum has to do something that may seem simple, but if she is not careful and does not put in the necessary effort, it could become the most difficult task of her six-year term. The new president’s main tasks are to respect and give her due place to those who put her where she is. Secondly, she must do whatever is necessary so that in the next elections, instead of 30 million Mexicans, there will be 40 million voting for the continuity of the Fourth Transformation, if they still call it that by then.
When I saw that the President of Mexico went to Acapulco on her first day in office, I was happy about the action. However, as indeed happened to many Mexicans, my joy was short-lived, and my smile turned into a grimace of mild dissatisfaction. Sheinbaum indeed went to Acapulco, but upon analyzing her brief tour and the short time that her visit lasted, one can quickly conclude that it was more of a visit out of commitment than duty. Although it must be recognized that she decided to go, I do not know how much closeness can be created with those affected when most of the visit consisted of a helicopter tour to assess the scale of the damage caused by Hurricane John. Her feet did not get wet, her eyes did not cross with the sadness and helplessness of those who had lost everything, and her nose could not smell what it meant for the people of Acapulco to be victims of the inevitable and disastrous punishment of nature.
Today, Acapulco suffers and longs for its golden days. It is a place privileged by its location and that at one time was one of the most beautiful and sought-after coasts in the world, but that, due to the curses of the world -organized crime, government mismanagement, and natural punishments-suffers one of the greatest deteriorations the country has seen in a long time. Empathy is presential, not omnipresent. The president almost achieved a significant feat but did not. She has yet to get her shoes wet, embrace the wet, smell the misery generated, and -with the scarce resources still available from the State- quickly implement solutions for the victims of Acapulco.
López Obrador and Sheinbaum are, at least on paper, and we will see, in practice, very different rulers. They have not had the same path or the same opportunities. While it took López Obrador 18 years of uninterrupted campaigning to reach the presidency, it was enough for Sheinbaum to be his favorite and show her loyalty to obtain the triumph. Both were heads of Mexico City, but Sheinbaum did not have to face alleged electoral fraud or as many enemies as her predecessor. However, many things make them similar, and others underline their differences.
I believe that sooner rather than later, there will be no solution but to nuance the mañaneras. When López Obrador was head of the then Federal District, I attended twice -at his invitation- his Mañaneras. At that hour, one is so sleepy that it is difficult to interpret what is being said. Just when we thought that, after López Obrador’s departure, the country’s mornings would take on a different tone, Dr. Sheinbaum surprised us by announcing that she would continue with this style of government. I will not speak for others, but I had enough of this dynamic sustained for six years and sincerely expected something more – or at least different – at the beginning of this administration.
Without dramatizing the data, although these are very dramatic, with few exceptions, no president in the world has obtained the electoral power Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum obtained in the last elections. With a historic victory that meant obtaining more than 35 million votes and almost 60% of the votes counted, nearly no ruler can boast these numbers. But inevitably, given the weight that power has in our country and according to the way things are, it is fundamental to understand that we have to adjust the solutions so that they really serve the people.
In the end, Sheinbaum will also live in the National Palace. Likewise, there will be mañaneras and – although her instinct, her political knowledge, or that of her advisors, which comes to the same thing – told her that she had to go to Acapulco, she did not take that opportunity as she should have. Seeing and analyzing all of this, I can only say that we must be careful and avoid falling into the trap the Americans fell into. The campaign between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, until the still president of the United States decided to drop out of the race, had been a campaign that focused on highlighting all the disadvantages and inability to govern that Biden had because of his age. Neither Trump nor his team of advisors realize that the game’s rules have changed with Biden’s exit from the race. As the debate showed, it will not be enough for Trump to attack the mistakes Kamala Harris made relentlessly.
Everything is still to be decided, and it is not yet possible to say that Donald Trump’s return to the White House is inevitable. The campaign that started as a comfortable, leisurely stroll against Joe Biden is over and radically changed. Even though a phenomenon similar to 2016 in which Hillary Clinton won the popular vote but Trump won the presidency by winning in the electoral college is likely to happen again, the reality is that the margins of error are very narrow. Any mistake or oversight can prevent Trump from returning to power.
In our times, the country and my colleagues in the profession must understand that there has been a change of president in Mexico. Beyond the significant change that Sheinbaum, being the first woman in office, implies, the real success of her administration will be if she really manages to govern for all and not for a few. No, success no longer lies in divide and conquer. Now, for the good of the country, the incoming administration, and the good of all, the triumph of some should also be the triumph of others. It is not possible to achieve the most respected and significant political position without seeking to honor what this position represents. It is time to get the ox out of the gully and change once and for all the divisive trend established in the country’s daily life and impose a presidential leadership that sets an example of how things should be done.
López Obrador is no more. He is gone. Even though there are still mañaneras and many other dynamics that make us think that his omnipresent finger continues to dictate the national agenda, the reality is that today’s dawns are different. Some things have not changed, such as the very profitable business of faith, hope, and charity in the exercise of government. Nevertheless, it is time to give second chances. We must give the benefit of the doubt and allow a scenario where the internal war is ended, and an atmosphere of peace and cordiality is installed. Let us hope that this new administration leaves behind the use of confrontational discourse and turns ineffectiveness into achievements and good results. Let us give it a chance and allow the resurgence of the State and the effective rebirth of the institutions that guarantee the nation’s functioning.
There are always winners and losers in life, love, and politics. Some enjoy the triumph, and some are frustrated for not taking advantage of the opportunities. And it is in this second scenario that Mexico’s political opposition currently finds itself. An opposition that had power, that caressed to have it again but that, for different and diverse reasons and circumstances, did their best to lose it. But that should not mean that the country that felt identified or represented by that opposition should suffer the same defeat and see all their dreams and hopes for a better future slip through their fingers. Today, it is our turn to set the limits that neither the laws nor the institutions can give. Today is our turn to be Mexico, and it is everyone’s turn to be Mexico.
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