Thousands March for Democracy in Mexico, Challenging Ruling Party Ahead of Elections

Thousands of protesters wearing pink marched through cities in Mexico and abroad on Sunday in a demonstration they dubbed a "march for democracy" aimed at the country's ruling party ahead of the June 2 elections.

The protests organized by Mexico's opposition parties demanded transparent elections in the Latin American country and condemned corruption shortly after presidential favorite Claudia Sheinbaum proclaimed a run with the majority party Morena, as per The Independent.

90,000 Express Democracy Concerns

MEXICO-OPPOSITION-RALLY — (Photo : VICTOR MENDIOLA/AFP via Getty Images)
People take part in the opposition march "For our democracy" called by various organizations to demand a "free vote" in the upcoming June 2 presidential election, at the Zocalo square in Mexico City on February 18, 2024. Thousands of demonstrators denounced an attempt by president Andrés Manuel López Obrador to orchestrate a "state election" that favours the leftist ruling party's candidate Claudia Sheinbaum, who leads the race with more than 60 per cent support, according to various polls.

Approximately 90,000 individuals joined the demonstrations, expressing concerns about the perceived threats to democracy by the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Despite López Obrador's popularity for representing the working class, his administration has faced accusations of undermining democratic principles.

Claudia Sheinbaum, considered by many as a successor to the popular populist leader Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has sparked both support and dissent. López Obrador, who garnered immense popularity in 2018 for challenging the country's elite parties, is now facing accusations of undermining democracy.

Last year, the president reduced funding for the National Electoral Institute (INE) and weakened oversight of campaign spending, raising alarms about potential threats to the democratic process. The agency's color, pink, has become a symbolic representation for demonstrators.

Furthermore, López Obrador's confrontations with journalists, judiciary, and claims of a conservative conspiracy have added fuel to the growing discontent. In Mexico City, protesters, donned in pink, gathered at the main plaza, chanting demands for López Obrador's departure. Signs reading "the power of the people is greater than the people in power" underscored the sentiment of the demonstrators, according to ABC News.

PRI Leader Upholds Democracy Amidst Global Protests

The march, organized by various opposition groups including the National Civic Front, Yes for Mexico, Citizen Power, Civil Society Mexico, UNE Mexico, and United for Mexico, aimed to defend democratic institutions and protest against attacks on candidates by drug cartels, particularly in local elections.

Enrique de la Madrid Cordero, a prominent politician from the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), emphasized the importance of democracy in a video posted on social media. Despite holding power for over 70 years, the PRI now stands with other opposition groups in challenging the current political climate.

Demonstrations took place in numerous cities throughout Mexico, the United States, and Spain, highlighting the broad apprehension regarding the condition of Mexican democracy. Despite the large protests, polls indicate that López Obrador's supporter, Claudia Sheinbaum, is in a good position for her election to the presidency.

President López Obrador, however, remains resilient in the face of criticism, dismissing the protests as attempts by his critics to restore corruption to power. In a press briefing, he assured reporters that there would be no electoral fraud in the upcoming election and vehemently denied intervening in democratic processes.

As Mexico negotiates the intricacies of its political environment, the dispute between supporters of López Obrador's vision and those advocating for electoral integrity highlights the profound concerns about the future of democracy in the nation, US News reported.