Ricardo Pascoe Pierce
The unity of the opposition between the PAN and the PRI in the 2027 elections is a matter of historic urgency. It is not an opportunistic or merely electoral alliance, although it would be justifiable for those reasons as well. No. It is a response to the worsening national political climate, with Morena’s authoritarian drift becoming more pronounced with each passing day. It is the necessary response that the opposition must offer Mexican society to halt the regressive agenda that Morena seeks to impose.
Morena has erected a high and solid legal and electoral barrier to prevent the opposition from making electoral gains next year. Not content with having taken control of the electoral bodies—the National Electoral Institute (INE) and the Federal Electoral Tribunal (TEPJF)—by corrupting them, the ruling party has moved swiftly to create new legal conditions to invalidate opposition votes. The legislation, already approved, that allows the annulment of elections on the grounds of “foreign intervention and influence” opens the door to stripping the opposition of votes and invalidating candidate registrations. In the absence of secondary legislation—and even with it—any allegation or subjective interpretation regarding foreign influence on voting patterns will serve the government and Morena to disqualify candidates and invalidate votes.
The approved bill states that “Mexican democracy faces external threats that seek to subvert the will of the people through the interference of foreign governments, organizations, or agents.” The wording is unequivocal: that threat already exists, according to lawmakers.
Consequently, the following phrase was added to Article 75, subsection k of the law: “including those arising from acts of foreign intervention or interference that affect the freedom or authenticity of voting at the corresponding polling station.”
Article 78 states: “An election shall be declared null and void when there is full and conclusive evidence that foreign governments, international organizations, foreign private entities, foreign individuals or legal entities, or any other entity originating outside the national territory have intervened directly or indirectly in the electoral process, and such conduct is serious, willful, or decisive for the outcome of the election.”
This paranoid legislation provides a long list of actions that could affect the election and national sovereignty, such as financing, digital manipulation, and political, economic, diplomatic, or media pressure—whether by land, water, sea, air, or any other cause determined by the TEPJF.
In essence, the law applies to everyone and issues a warning. If you express an opinion about Mexico during an election, it will be grounds for annulling the election. A report by an international organization addressing Mexico’s internal situation on any topic will be considered grounds for annulment if a candidate uses its findings in a debate. The opinion of an international commentator who argues in favor of a candidate’s positions can be interpreted as grounds for invalidating that candidate’s candidacy—and so on, ad infinitum—the reasons and pretexts are endless. The trap is set.
The opposition must understand this. The upcoming election is not taking place within the framework of a certain “democratic normality.” The upcoming election has been turned into a contest for absolute political hegemony. This is how Morena sees it—and this is how it is approaching it. It is Morena’s best opportunity not merely to defeat the opposition at the polls, but to annihilate it. The underlying idea behind building these containment barriers is to ensure there is no opposition in Mexico. They do not consider it necessary for “their democracy.”
Part of the opposition seems not to have understood this. Their discourse remains rooted in the basic idea that each party has an existential duty to defend its particular ideology above all else. They do not seem to understand that, in Mexico, that line of reasoning was left behind long ago. Political parties are entities of public interest. They exist primarily for the sake of the nation, and secondarily for their own sake. Today, the nation demands that they take a broader view to defend the notion of the Republic, the separation of powers, and democracy. The parties allied with the government defend their idea of power, not of the country. That is the ideology of the 4T.
If political parties abandon the idea of defending the democratic Republic above all else—including their own particular ideologies—then they will have abandoned their very reason for being. The parties of the ruling coalition have lost their raison d’être. Their sole intention is the possession of power. They do not consider the interests of the Republic. Hence, their nature as a sectarian faction.
The legal barrier created by Morena, led by Sheinbaum, stems from the outdated—yet obviously still relevant—ideas of Stalin. The state is the insurmountable barrier placed at the service of a political party unwilling to relinquish power through a democratic electoral contest. The “foreign interference” lock is the bolt designed to keep political power securely in the hands of Morena and its allies in crime, the PT and the Green Party.
If the PAN and PRI unite behind a strong narrative of opposition and resistance to the rise of authoritarianism—and abandon any notion that Mexico is experiencing democratic normality—there are strong indications that the opposition bloc could make significant gains in electoral strength and political presence.
The opposition must agree on a tough, confrontational narrative that challenges the 4T government, AMLO, and Morena—along with their authoritarian drift and their alliance with drug cartels. The people are ready to support a resolute, strong, and democratic stance from the opposition—one that is fearless and backed by a clear plan for setting Mexico back on course.
This decision will be historic. There is no room for hesitation. It is time to step forward and acknowledge the gravity of the threat facing Mexico. The campaign’s common narrative must focus on the threats that Morena’s continued rule poses to Mexico—in black and white, without mincing words. The choice is between democracy and dictatorship.
The opposition’s strength and determination will act as a magnet for segments of the population who want change but are afraid to express it and do not know how to act on it. It will also help expose the internal contradictions within the ruling bloc. Some want to take a step—if not forward, then at least to the side—away from Morena and the government due to their dissatisfaction with AMLO and Sheinbaum’s course of action.
If the right choice is made, the path is open to move forward toward building a democratic and pluralistic Mexico. A united opposition can put a stop to tyranny.
@rpascoep
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