This article is an opinion piece whose contents represent the standpoint of its author and not UPF Lund or The Perspective’s editorial board.
Mexico, Mexico, Mexico—home to breathtaking landscapes, tacos, and tequila, where tradition meets social and political absurdity. Let’s dive into a topic as rich as its culture and as spicy as a good salsa verde: the grand show of indifference and hypocrisy that seems to infect all levels of society—from the elites to the masses, politicians, and everyday citizens alike. Hold on tight, everyone, because we are about to drive through the twists and turns of the (very poor) current Mexican political terrain.
Act One: The Election, or “Oops, We Won Again”
On June 2nd, Mexico held its latest presidential elections, and (surprise, surprise) Claudia Sheinbaum—heading the ruling party—secured a massive victory with 59.75% of the votes, meaning that unbelievably, more than 35 million people looked at the mess and said, “Yeah, this looks good enough.” Now, let’s take a moment to appreciate how absurd this is. You would think with all the complaints and allegations about corruption, incompetence, drug-cartel-friendly militarization, and violence being fought with hugs, the opposition might seize the moment, positioning themselves as a credible and capable alternative. But no. Instead, they ran a campaign that can only be described as “Attack Morena! Attack them harder!” without offering anything remotely comparable to a solution.
So, who do we blame? Clearly: the people, because it could not possibly be the opposition’s fault for running a campaign that was as fragile as a feather. Instead, certain individuals—particularly those sipping Starbucks lattes in their “exclusive” neighborhoods—decided it is the poor who are to blame. Why? Because those ungrateful beggars dared to vote for the party that offered them (gasp) social assistance. The logic appears to go: “If we are going to suffer under this so-called ‘socialist’ regime the poor voted for, they deserve to be poor and miserable forever.” Thus, these fine, noble citizens suddenly vow never to tip waiters, gas station attendants, or even offer a peso to the poor windshield washers ever again.
But hang on a second. Are we really convinced that those who claim to be the moral and intellectual backbone of the country even know who their closest representatives are? Could they name a single article of the Constitution or say how many Justices comprise the Supreme Court? But sure, they are “educated”. So educated that they cannot even distinguish between authoritarianism and populism, all while waving their European passports around like a badge of superiority.
Oh, and by the way, they still think we are on the fast track to “becoming Venezuela”, because, of course, nothing says “educated” more than repeating an over-six-year-old fear (and nonsense) slogan. Now, I might just be crazy, but while this meaningless fear dominates the conversation, I believe we should be far more alarmed by a much more pressing, yet largely ignored issue: femicide.
Act Two: The Reform to End All Reforms and the Silence of Scandal
It is just your average day in a country where 9 or 10 women are killed every single day, yet somehow, people collectively shrug their shoulders and say “Eh, that is just the way things are”. But not to worry! The real indignation does not stem from this misogynistic epidemic. Social and political fury only ignites when someone’s personal interests might be affected. Take, for example, the recent outrage over a lovely constitutional reform—because who cares about women’s safety when there is legislative drama, right?
Enter the protagonist of our tragedy, Miguel Ángel Yunes Linares, the opposition congressman who cast the deciding vote that allowed the ruling party to pass a reform permitting judges and Supreme Court members to be elected by popular vote. “What a hero,” they said, applauding his “courageous” stance in “respecting the will of the people”. Yunes, who had been cozy with his political allies, threw them under the bus for this reform, and as expected, they accused him of betrayal, power-grabbing, and threatening democracy. Oh, how their moral fury came out—when it suited them, of course.
Yunes is not just any opposition figure. A few years back, investigative journalist Lydia Cacho accused him of something so vile, so reprehensible, that one would think every corner of society would rise up in arms. What was he accused of? Oh, just being involved in a child trafficking network. Yes, you read that right. Cacho—who risked her life and was tortured for exposing the powerful elite’s role in trafficking minors—documented Yunes’ involvement in her book (The Demons of Eden), as he, using his position, protected his beloved friends, some of whom had already been convicted of raping female minors.
Here is the kicker: nobody said a word. Society carried on as if it were just another Tuesday. And our protagonist? Well, it is almost comical, really. Instead of facing consequences, he rose to even greater political prominence. In a country that is practically drowning in femicide, this man is making headlines again, but not because of his dark past. As it turns out, this was not enough to even raise an eyebrow. Because why would it be? A man accused of depraved crimes involving little girls—no biggie! You cannot let a little thing like these allegations get in the way of a potential political win.
The now members of the ruling party, which loves to preach its leftist, progressive values—champions of the people, defenders of the marginalized—chose to remain silent back when Yunes’s actions came to light. Today, they applaud his “bravery”. And judging by the loud indignation of the opposition, you would have thought he had committed an unspeakable offence … And to them, he did. How dare he risk their political power and influence for the sake of some populist reform? Yet, when this man was accused of protecting child traffickers, crickets… crickets. Now that their self-interest is on the line? Suddenly, it is time to shout from the rooftops.
Yunes’ vote for the reform was not just a betrayal of his party. It was a reminder that Mexican politics is more about convenience than convictions. And the silence surrounding his dark past? A perfect example of how both sides turn a blind eye to real injustice, as long as it keeps the political machine oiled.
Act Three: The Symbol No One Truly Cared About
To top it all off, October 1st came, and Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in as Mexico’s first female president, receiving the presidential sash from none other than Ifigenia Martínez, a 99-year-old leading figure of the Mexican left. The poor woman could barely hold on to her feet. Unfortunately, she passed away just four days later. Naturally, the opposition blamed the government for dragging this elderly woman out for a spectacle.
But here is the twist: Ifigenia Martínez had been ill for years and held a significant political position despite her fragile health and her old age. Did the opposition care about her well-being when she was still alive and serving as head of the Chamber of Deputies? Nope, not one bit; not a single noise about her health, nor any concern about her ability to fulfill her duties––only when she appeared at the ceremony, they decided to show some compassion. The self-proclaimed “defenders of democracy” did not care, or most likely did not even know she was holding such an important position, once again proving that the ones who criticize the “ignorant masses” are often the most ignorant themselves.
Conclusion: The Circus Rolls On
In the great spectacle of Mexican politics, the show must go on. In the end, the country is not being destroyed by socialism, communism, or any other imaginary ideological enemy. It is being eaten alive by its own indifference, hypocrisy, and willingness to overlook inconvenient truths when it suits the narrative. So, congratulations, Mexico, you have managed to create a political and social environment where everyone is both a victim and a villain—truly a remarkable achievement that, sadly, no one seems to care for.
By Graciela Moreno Niño
October 25, 2024
