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Playing President: López Obrador Swears Himself In
Phoenix, Arizona – “The first pages of a new chapter in Mexico’s
history begin with a familiar word: fraud; a word written on many
pages of many other chapters in the history of this nation. The title
of this new episode is “July 2nd, 2006”, the date of the most recent
presidential election. Just before, but absolutely more clearly after
the electoral day, Mexico’s society witnessed a political struggle
aimed at sustaining and gaining power. Echoes of fraud − a constant
in most Mexican elections − tolled like church bells calling the people
to rise and to respond, and to act upon a more familiar and tragic
sound: the sound of protest.
Reminiscences of the barefaced fraud of 1988 lingered over 2006’s
election, feeding and reviving people’s sentiment of frustration, and
opening an old wound. A gash so deep, it actually gives continuity to
Mexican history, and bleeds the necessary ink for the next chapter,
for a new section of a familiar plot, a repetitive drama, and a virtually
indispensable comedy. In the midst of this political theatre, the
audience − the Mexican people − does not know what’s better: to
cry or to laugh − a popular saying so intricately woven in the fabric of
Mexico’s idiosyncrasy, that could be easily minted in the apocryphal
coins of Andrés Manuel López Obrador that were circulated as a
commemorative souvenir the day of his no less apocryphal
inauguration.
Allegations of an engineered fraud shook Mexico’s assumed social
peace. The epicenter of a sociopolitical tremor cracked the avenue of
convergence, splitting the society in two streets of divergence. From
underneath the pavement, the social monster of polarization
emerged limping, claiming to be the legitimate victor of a winnerless
election. Duplicated claims of “I am the president” came out of the
mouths of the two candidates, ringing in both ears of those who
voted and those who didn’t. And then, a tug of war, where neither
group was strong enough to make the other cross the center line. It
took and electoral court to decide who the winner was. After all, only
one candidate can win; there cannot be two presidents; or can there
be?
According to Andrés Manuel López Obrador − the former Mexican
presidential candidate who officially lost the election − the issue is
not if there can be two presidents, but who is the legitimate one.
Even though his defeat was confirmed by the Federal Electoral
Judicial Tribunal, he swore himself in as the “legitimate president” of
Mexico. He’s so certain the victory was his, that he firmly believes he
is the president, this in spite that there is an actual and official
president-elect: Felipe Calderón Hinojosa. López Obrador not only
proclaimed himself as the genuine president, but also announced the
founding of a new republic, presented a new national flag using a
coat of arms used by President Benito Juárez in the XIX Century, and
introduced his cabinet.
In a ceremony that took place in the main plaza in Mexico City – the
Zócalo – hundreds of thousands of Obrador’s followers gathered to
witness the rather unusual event, where López Obrador, who has
been claiming fraud and conspiracy since the July 2nd election,
received the “presidential” sash, which was placed around his
shoulders, a symbol closely tied to the presidency. The scenario
almost did look legitimate, except Mexican institutions neither
endorsed it nor has an official legitimacy. In his eyes, he’s the
president; in the eyes of the law, he is not.
Story continues below after slideshow.
history begin with a familiar word: fraud; a word written on many
pages of many other chapters in the history of this nation. The title
of this new episode is “July 2nd, 2006”, the date of the most recent
presidential election. Just before, but absolutely more clearly after
the electoral day, Mexico’s society witnessed a political struggle
aimed at sustaining and gaining power. Echoes of fraud − a constant
in most Mexican elections − tolled like church bells calling the people
to rise and to respond, and to act upon a more familiar and tragic
sound: the sound of protest.
Reminiscences of the barefaced fraud of 1988 lingered over 2006’s
election, feeding and reviving people’s sentiment of frustration, and
opening an old wound. A gash so deep, it actually gives continuity to
Mexican history, and bleeds the necessary ink for the next chapter,
for a new section of a familiar plot, a repetitive drama, and a virtually
indispensable comedy. In the midst of this political theatre, the
audience − the Mexican people − does not know what’s better: to
cry or to laugh − a popular saying so intricately woven in the fabric of
Mexico’s idiosyncrasy, that could be easily minted in the apocryphal
coins of Andrés Manuel López Obrador that were circulated as a
commemorative souvenir the day of his no less apocryphal
inauguration.
Allegations of an engineered fraud shook Mexico’s assumed social
peace. The epicenter of a sociopolitical tremor cracked the avenue of
convergence, splitting the society in two streets of divergence. From
underneath the pavement, the social monster of polarization
emerged limping, claiming to be the legitimate victor of a winnerless
election. Duplicated claims of “I am the president” came out of the
mouths of the two candidates, ringing in both ears of those who
voted and those who didn’t. And then, a tug of war, where neither
group was strong enough to make the other cross the center line. It
took and electoral court to decide who the winner was. After all, only
one candidate can win; there cannot be two presidents; or can there
be?
According to Andrés Manuel López Obrador − the former Mexican
presidential candidate who officially lost the election − the issue is
not if there can be two presidents, but who is the legitimate one.
Even though his defeat was confirmed by the Federal Electoral
Judicial Tribunal, he swore himself in as the “legitimate president” of
Mexico. He’s so certain the victory was his, that he firmly believes he
is the president, this in spite that there is an actual and official
president-elect: Felipe Calderón Hinojosa. López Obrador not only
proclaimed himself as the genuine president, but also announced the
founding of a new republic, presented a new national flag using a
coat of arms used by President Benito Juárez in the XIX Century, and
introduced his cabinet.
In a ceremony that took place in the main plaza in Mexico City – the
Zócalo – hundreds of thousands of Obrador’s followers gathered to
witness the rather unusual event, where López Obrador, who has
been claiming fraud and conspiracy since the July 2nd election,
received the “presidential” sash, which was placed around his
shoulders, a symbol closely tied to the presidency. The scenario
almost did look legitimate, except Mexican institutions neither
endorsed it nor has an official legitimacy. In his eyes, he’s the
president; in the eyes of the law, he is not.
Story continues below after slideshow.
Barriozona's Mexico City Bureau November 21, 2006
Andrés Manuel López Obrador was
able to seize the hunger and thirst of
the poor and less privileged people.
Officially defeated, he has proclaimed
himself "legitimate" president.
Photo: William Gonzalez
able to seize the hunger and thirst of
the poor and less privileged people.
Officially defeated, he has proclaimed
himself "legitimate" president.
Photo: William Gonzalez
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| HISI © 2006 |
Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, the man institutions, and the highest
electoral authority of Mexico said he is the legitimate winner. The
actual president-elect will take oath on Friday, December 1st. That is
if López Obrador’s party, the Party of the Democratic Revolution
(PRD), allows him to do so. They are, as a political entity of growing
presence and strength, as convinced as their former candidate that
there was major fraud that stole the presidential election from them.
Based on that notion, López Obrador as well as the PRD, have
vowed to impede the official president-elect from the National Action
Party (PAN) to be sworn in. They also have determined to make life
miserable for Calderón Hinojosa if he becomes president, and assure
that he won’t finish his six-year term.
López Obrador probably could have accomplished more by fighting in
the social arena as an activist, as a leader of the people, as a
community wrestler in favor of a crowd starving for justice and
economic equality. The poor were there ready to be reaped by a true
social warrior. He chose to play president instead, to stubbornly
install himself in the most ridiculous and scandalous act in the trail of
absurd, silly, and infective strategies seeking to change the outcome
of an election won at all costs by the party in power. Was there
fraud? Was López Obrador robbed the presidency? Isn’t he a
politician who also knows about unscrupulous tactics and dirty
political tricks? Isn’t he himself plotting to prevent Calderon Hinojosa
from taking oath, or from finishing his term? He should not be
surprised at how Mexican politics operate.
López Obrador was able to seize the hunger and thirst of the poor
and less privileged people. His banner and his doctrine are as valid
as the people’s demands for better economic opportunities and
social justice. If he wanted to fight for them, he obviously chose the
wrong job. Couldn’t he be a Martin Luther King, Jr. or a Cesar
Chavez, a social activist to bring about the changes he seeks in the
political arena? He wanted to be president at all costs as well, so we
know being an activist is not his avenue. Everything in him points out
to a man who dreams of power, and who may be using and
manipulating the needy and less educated people for his own gain.
Perhaps López Obrador hasn’t realized it yet, but by making himself
the president, he’ll never be a legitimate one. Time will reveal right
and wrong perceptions about him, but most likely they will confirm
López Obrador was a fake as the coins circulated in his
“inauguration.” Whatever amount of sincerity and honesty he may
have had was shattered by his own fantasies of power.
electoral authority of Mexico said he is the legitimate winner. The
actual president-elect will take oath on Friday, December 1st. That is
if López Obrador’s party, the Party of the Democratic Revolution
(PRD), allows him to do so. They are, as a political entity of growing
presence and strength, as convinced as their former candidate that
there was major fraud that stole the presidential election from them.
Based on that notion, López Obrador as well as the PRD, have
vowed to impede the official president-elect from the National Action
Party (PAN) to be sworn in. They also have determined to make life
miserable for Calderón Hinojosa if he becomes president, and assure
that he won’t finish his six-year term.
López Obrador probably could have accomplished more by fighting in
the social arena as an activist, as a leader of the people, as a
community wrestler in favor of a crowd starving for justice and
economic equality. The poor were there ready to be reaped by a true
social warrior. He chose to play president instead, to stubbornly
install himself in the most ridiculous and scandalous act in the trail of
absurd, silly, and infective strategies seeking to change the outcome
of an election won at all costs by the party in power. Was there
fraud? Was López Obrador robbed the presidency? Isn’t he a
politician who also knows about unscrupulous tactics and dirty
political tricks? Isn’t he himself plotting to prevent Calderon Hinojosa
from taking oath, or from finishing his term? He should not be
surprised at how Mexican politics operate.
López Obrador was able to seize the hunger and thirst of the poor
and less privileged people. His banner and his doctrine are as valid
as the people’s demands for better economic opportunities and
social justice. If he wanted to fight for them, he obviously chose the
wrong job. Couldn’t he be a Martin Luther King, Jr. or a Cesar
Chavez, a social activist to bring about the changes he seeks in the
political arena? He wanted to be president at all costs as well, so we
know being an activist is not his avenue. Everything in him points out
to a man who dreams of power, and who may be using and
manipulating the needy and less educated people for his own gain.
Perhaps López Obrador hasn’t realized it yet, but by making himself
the president, he’ll never be a legitimate one. Time will reveal right
and wrong perceptions about him, but most likely they will confirm
López Obrador was a fake as the coins circulated in his
“inauguration.” Whatever amount of sincerity and honesty he may
have had was shattered by his own fantasies of power.
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| Photos: William Gonzalez |
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Eduardo Barraza is a journalist and writer,
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
Barriozona Magazine's editor, and director of
the Hispanic Insitute of Social Issues.
E-mail: editor@barriozona.com
