Politics: Pro-Xóchitl civic groups are revitalized by the latest pro-democracy protest with the general election campaign start just days away
Hundreds of thousands of citizens took to the streets of Mexico City and well over a over a hundred other cities here and abroad on February 18 to protest against AMLO’s constitutional reform proposals designed to nullify Mexican democracy and keep the governing Morena party in power. It was the third in a string of similar protests dating back over 18 months by civil society organizations that successfully pushed for the PAN-PRI-PRD coalition to back their choice of presidential nominee and at one crucial point helped dissuade the PRI from toying with the idea of voting in favor of some of López Obrador’s reforms that would have further undermined democratic institutions. The rallies throughout the country thus confirmed that democracy has become a public good appreciated by a broad sector of society. Even though the main perceived problem in the country is insecurity, it is remarkable that something more intangible is valued.
Building this movement and mounting such massive demonstrations is by no means a minor achievement for disparate civil organizations that lack the funding and logistical might wielded by political parties and federal and subnational government administrations. Those abilities will be increasingly put to the test as the general election campaign formally begins on March 1.
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