As Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) prepares to retire from politics, he has expressed contentment with his legacy and confidence in his successor, Claudia Sheinbaum. AMLO, who will hand over the presidency on October 1, praised Sheinbaum’s experience, capacity, and imagination, stating, ‘I’m going contentedly into retirement’. He celebrated the fact that Mexico will have its first female president in 500 years, calling it a ‘blessing’.Sheinbaum, who won a landslide victory in the June 2 presidential elections, has committed to continuing the social programs implemented by AMLO’s Fourth Transformation (4T) movement. She has also announced plans to introduce new initiatives, including scholarships for public school students and pensions for women aged 60-64. Sheinbaum emphasized, ‘We won’t allow the people’s rights to be taken away again,’ referring to the social programs and rights restored during AMLO’s presidency.AMLO has been critical of the opposition, claiming they are ‘still in shock’ after the election defeat. He accused them of living in a bubble, manipulating media, and being disconnected from the people. Despite these criticisms, AMLO expressed confidence in the country’s democratic progress, stating, ‘In a true democracy, the people are the ones who decide and govern’.Meanwhile, in Venezuela, presidential candidates are campaigning for the upcoming election on July 28. Edmundo González Urrutia and María Corina Machado held a rally at the University Central of Venezuela, emphasizing the importance of change through voting. Luis Eduardo Martínez, another presidential candidate, expressed confidence in the electoral process and called for a national unity government post-election. The Venezuelan election continues to be a focal point of regional attention, with concerns about fairness and international recognition of the results.
Key points
- AMLO expresses satisfaction with his legacy as he prepares to hand over the presidency to Claudia Sheinbaum.
- Sheinbaum commits to continuing AMLO’s social programs and introducing new ones, including scholarships and pensions.
- Venezuelan presidential candidates campaign for the July 28 election, emphasizing change and unity.
Contradictions👾While AMLO criticizes the opposition for being ‘in shock’ and disconnected, he also claims that Mexico is now one of the most politicized countries in the world, which seems to contradict the idea of a disengaged opposition.
