On Monterrey's Esplanade of Heroes, in the heart of the prosperous but heat-stricken city Morena, activists (of the ruling left wing party) were still looking for a new version of their favorite slogan on Sunday, August 18. Soon, "Es un honor estar con Obrador!" ("It's an honor to stand with Obrador!") will be obsolete. Their president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (known as "AMLO") has announced his retirement from political life at the end of his term on September 30. But the phrase has been chanted for so many years that it seems to have become an identity cement.
When Claudia Sheinbaum appeared on stage with him on Sunday, the president elected on June 2 with more than 59% of the vote was warmly cheered. "Presidenta! Presidenta!"
Their communications teams call them "working visits," "program evaluations" or "field inspections." But the weekend trips that the outgoing president had organized with his successor since mid-June looked more like a farewell tour for one, and a triumphant inaugural run for the other.
With his usual slow delivery, "AMLO" almost let himself be carried away by a lyrical outburst: "Thank you to science, nature, the creator and the people!" he said, referring to the many academic stripes of the physicist and IPCC member who will replace him. "You're going to have a president with a PhD in science, do you realize that?" In turn, Sheinbaum switched to praise amid cheers from the audience: "Never before has a Mexican president left office buoyed by so much love from his people!" This tour will undoubtedly go down as Mexico's longest retirement party.
These public events are designed to transfer popular fervor from one figure to another. "To say Claudia is to say 'AMLO,' and to say 'AMLO' is to say Claudia," said Idalia Trejo, a 55-year-old law expert who came to "say goodbye to [her] president."
Sheinbaum will not take office until October 1. On that day, her mentor will leave office haloed by a popularity rating in excess of 80% – a propulsion engine for his successor. Even though the event's host, Governor of Nuevo León Samuel García of the progressive Citizen Movement party, was hissed at as soon as he spoke, Sheinbaum thanked him on stage for his welcome. In fact, he has several corruption scandals behind him. But the future head of state, in a calm, authoritative tone, raised her hand and said: "No, no! A round of applause for everyone, please!"
Humberto Garcia, a 65-year-old cab driver, waved his doll bearing the effigy of "la presidenta" at each round of applause. "Our country is stable, prosperous, people have faith. But 'AMLO' has been attacked from all sides by the opposition, and they will attack Sheinbaum even more. So it's important that he goes with her, and that the people get to know her, and give her all their support!" he said.
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