Antonio Navalón
No one gets more help and voluntary support from their supporters than national soccer coaches and presidential candidates, as long as things are going in the right direction. It must be understood that both are having a game in which our national team plays, and choosing who will be our next president is a highly emotional issue that sometimes, rarely, is mixed with a space for reflection. We are in a new world. Everything is new. The issues that move people, their fears, and the eclipse of the democratic system are not only placed on one part of the planet but the whole.
President López Obrador did not like his candidate’s defense of his regime in the debate. This is normal. Never in history has any ruler been totally in agreement, convinced, grateful, or treated well by the one he had designated to succeed him. A problem of structural origin makes the difference; a ruler who believes he is at the zenith of his power appoints his successor, making him see or try to impose the continuity of his program. Many times, this is done to complete a legacy. Still, on many other occasions, it is done simply because he did not have the time, resources, or capabilities to do what he planned to do during his administration. Commonly, whoever leaves power demands to be treated with respect and consideration, often with impunity, and usually intends that whoever succeeds them continues to implement their vision for the present and future of the nation.
No ruler puts himself in the shoes of the one who follows, just as no ruler is met with the expected consideration and respect of the one who succeeds him. As power is the true holy grail of the human condition, it is normal to feel that betrayal nests in those who dare to see -even if only for 1 millimeter- the world differently from the way it was known, designed, and practiced by those who are still sitting in the chair. We must be aware that this year’s election is unique in both the United States and Mexico. This is commonly said about all elections, but never before has there been such a delicate and volatile domestic situation in both countries as the current one. We come from crises; we are in crisis and will probably continue to be in crisis. These are internal crises but also external ones that affect the relationship between the two countries. The situation could reach an inevitable turning point if it is not fixed.
As for the rest of the world, the situation is not far from worrying. Much of our planet is at war, either directly or indirectly. Years after the 2008 crisis and before COVID-19, the planet – with a few exceptions – experienced a relative period of growth, peace, and harmony. For a while, we thought that economic organization and fiscal discipline would lead to happiness, from the point of view of having the suitable income to buy a welfare state, in a world where, again and again, the word war reappears as a phantom threat. That is what change is all about, though it is beyond the understanding of any ruler.
For the rulers, the only world that exists is their own. They believe that, since power is in their hands, so is truth. There have been many discussions about authority and government or the ability to exercise power from the Romans to the present day. But, if we have learned anything, it is that a power without authority is a power doomed to disappear.
I understand the surprise and desolation of someone who always knew he was extraordinary. Given this, President López Obrador cannot be considered a great defender of feminism, and there is no evidence that his family and personal situation allowed him to be misogynist. But what is clear is that he in no way differentiates between men and women. On the one hand, he asks for and demands absolute loyalty, at least as far as his person and his movement are concerned. And it is not that there has been a tradition, nor is he already seeing himself traveling around the Fiji Islands. It is not a case similar to what happened to López Portillo, who spent the first two months being awakened in the early hours of the morning by his predecessor, Luis Echeverría, who would dial him first thing every day to plan what the government’s actions should be, starting that day. On one occasion, López Portillo told this dynamic to his Secretary of the Interior, Mr. Jesús Reyes Heroles, and as if by magic, the calls ended. One day, López Portillo asked Reyes Heroles how he had managed to stop Echeverría from calling him and to stop creating problems in the government. Reyes Heroles replied that he had cut off the red phone.
This is human nature, how it is, and how power works. I don’t know how far candidate Sheinbaum would be willing to change things and dynamics; I do know that any change of look, comma, or a single letter of the program – according to the president’s mind – will be considered an act of betrayal. Meanwhile, all the faithful followers have a plan for the coach, for the president, they know how the aspirants and candidates should behave to become president. We all know how power is conquered, but in the end – by selection and definition – power is a delicacy that very few can enjoy.
Now, it is too late for everything. It is too late for a recall or to be able to produce an earthquake in the electoral process. But there is still time to reflect that, even if one was chosen directly by God, there is the possibility of having an alternative program to the one designed. In that sense, the big question here is not how loyal a candidate is, but the big question is to be able to answer what is the margin of play that a president can support concerning his program and the proposals or policies carried out by the one he chose to succeed him.
We are in a situation that has no precedent. One of the only measures this presidency took before June 2 was to lower the percentage required to revoke the president’s mandate, whoever she may be, two years after taking office. And now, this change on pardons that I do not know – since I do not know the exact content of what was approved – but that in some cases could even reach that situation that Americans fear so much. That situation is where any former president could do an act of self-pardon, as Donald Trump could in the future. Is that what could also happen in Mexico? In any case, we are coming down the final stretch, and loyalties are proving how fragile they are when you are so close to gaining power. The question here will be how President Lopez Obrador will react as long as he remains in control and how far he will allow his candidate to have some autonomy.
And finally, as predicted and as Joe Biden announced, sooner rather than later, “Iran will attack Israel”. An attack on Iran was enough to show that it is not possible to attack a consulate and kill generals of the revolution without consequences and without having to pay a price for it. The problem with wars, weapons, and technology is that there is always room for mistakes. A miscalculation is enough to cause a catastrophe at any moment. It seems that the issue will remain here as long as Israel remains inactive. The crisis and tension grow with each passing moment. We are at a time when World War III is part of society’s conversations and thoughts. But, worse, it is a latent theme and even embedded in the minds of many global leaders.
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