Revista de la Mañana. El giro político en México: Análisis de la victoria de López Obrador y el fin de la era tecnócrata

Abstract

In this interview, Professor José Fernández Santillán analyzes Andrés Manuel López Obrador's victory in the 2018 elections, highlighting his 53% share of the vote as a milestone of legitimacy against the decline of the traditional party system, particularly the PRI. The analysis frames the triumph of the "Juntos Haremos Historia" coalition as a historic protest vote against neoliberalism, corruption, and the violence unleashed by drug trafficking. The scholar emphasizes that while there is optimism in certain sectors, AMLO's figure generates uncertainty due to his populist style, alliances with radical groups, and his economic vision of state control over strategic resources such as oil and electricity. Furthermore, the interview discusses the challenges of the bilateral relationship with the United States under the Donald Trump administration and the ambivalence of Enrique Peña Nieto's outgoing government. Santillán explains that Peña Nieto's initial success with the "Pact for Mexico" was overshadowed by tragedies like Ayotzinapa and the failure to curb organized crime. The professor concludes by calling for democratic vigilance against the rise of a "populist international" in Latin America, suggesting that Mexico's future will depend on the balance between AMLO's austerity promises and his team's technical capacity