Assessing AMLO: The Presidential Years
Despite powerful enemies at home and in the United States, Mexico’s left-populist former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador managed to not only win power but deliver on his promises to workers and the poor.
66 Articles by: Kurt Hackbarth
Page 1 of 4 Next
Kurt Hackbarth is a writer, playwright, freelance journalist, and the cofounder of the independent media project “MexElects.” He is currently coauthoring a book on the 2018 Mexican election.
Trump’s Tariff Threats Have Made Mexico’s President Stronger
Donald Trump’s tariff threats have only made Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, even more popular — her approval rating now stands at 85%.
Assessing AMLO: The Path to Power
Mexico’s staunchly left-populist former president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, just spent six years in power. But his road to the National Palace was anything but a straight line.
Mexico Could Weather Tariffs. Trump Could Not.
Donald Trump was elected on inflation and cost-of-living issues. His proposed trade war on Mexico and Canada would aggravate both.
Claudia Sheinbaum Stares Down Mexico’s Highest Court
Mexican judges have threatened to throw their own president in jail for implementing constitutional reforms that subject them to direct elections. The effort is destined to fail, but the confrontation could set the tone for lawfare campaigns across the region.
Claudia Sheinbaum, Presidenta
Mexico’s first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum, took office yesterday, succeeding AMLO following the left coalition’s landslide victory. Expect the Right to redouble its media attacks — and find a willing accomplice in the United States.
Who’s Afraid of Mexican Democracy?
Mexico’s judiciary is infamous for favoring oligarchs and other unsavory interests. MORENA’s judicial reforms aim to fix this by introducing democratic elections for judges — a move that has the US and global business elites in a panic.
Mexico’s Lessons for the International Left
Claudia Sheinbaum won Mexico’s presidential election thanks to her party’s record of passing universal social policies, respecting working-class voters, and rejecting biased media narratives.
Claudia Sheinbaum’s Victory Is a Triumph for Mexico
Claudia Sheinbaum has won Mexico’s presidential election in a landslide. In her victory speech, she paid homage to the social movements of the past and promised to continue MORENA’s impressive record of social progress.
Ecuador Raided Mexico’s Embassy. Biden Has to Pick a Side.
On April 5, Ecuadorean police stormed into the Mexican embassy in Quito to arrest former vice president Jorge Glas. The unlawful act has put the White House in an awkward position in relation to AMLO and Ecuadorean president Daniel Noboa.
The Campaign to Smear AMLO as a Narco
As the Mexican presidential campaign heats up, media outlets and think tanks are desperately trying to tie AMLO and his popular Morena party to drug traffickers. It’s a ludicrous smear that smacks of elite desperation.
In Mexico, Morena Looks Poised to Win the Presidency Again
Last Friday in Mexico City, Morena’s presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum launched her campaign. In the wake of AMLO’s popular presidential term, the left-wing party looks set to consolidate and build on its accomplishments.
Violence Is Overwhelming Chiapas
Mexico’s southernmost state of Chiapas, birthplace of the Zapatistas and once a safer part of the country, has seen a dramatic increase in violence. A scholar from Chiapas explains how cartel conflict and a glut of weapons are creating a perfect storm.
MORENA’s Next Chapter Will Be Written by Leftist Women
In Mexico, AMLO’s protégé, Claudia Sheinbaum, holds an overwhelming lead in the polls for the presidency, while Clara Brugada is aiming to become mayor of Mexico City. They will help determine whether the party has a future beyond AMLO.
Latin America Is Leading the Way in Standing Up to Israel
Bolivia has severed diplomatic relations with Israel, and Colombia, Chile, and Honduras have all recalled their ambassadors. Latin America is leading the way in opposing Israel’s war on Gaza.
Republican Talk About Invading Mexico Is Dangerous and Unhinged
Recent Republican bluster about a possible US ground invasion in Mexico to go after drug cartels remains on the fringe. But as bipartisan support for the border wall shows, far-fetched ideas can quickly become plausible in the run-up to a presidential election.
AMLO Is Reducing Poverty in Mexico
Since coming to office in 2018, Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador has made tackling inequality a key tenet of his Fourth Transformation. Millions have been lifted out of poverty, and the divide between rich and poor is shrinking.
Mexico Has Fully Recognized the State of Palestine
In fealty to US foreign policy, Mexico has long refused to recognize Palestinian statehood. Last week, that finally changed, with AMLO’s government officially acknowledging Palestinian statehood and establishing a full embassy in Mexico City.
In Mexico, AMLO Is Shining a Light on the DEA’s Hypocrisy in the War on Drugs
Mexican president AMLO and the Drug Enforcement Administration have been involved in a heated war of words following revelations of covert operations on Mexican soil. At the same time, an extensive web of corruption within the agency is being laid bare.
The US Government Is Complicit in the Drug Cartels’ Crimes
Last month, a federal US court found a former Mexican security chief guilty of colluding with the Sinaloa Cartel. The trial showed how both the US government and its Mexican clients have been guilty of the criminal activity they’re supposedly trying to stop.