The president began his tour of Paseo de la Reforma flanked by the three “corcholatas” best positioned in the polls that measure electoral preferences towards 2024: Claudia Sheinbaum, head of Government of Mexico City; Marcelo Ebrard, Secretary of Foreign Relations and Adán Augusto López, Secretary of the Interior. The three submitted to the applause meter, and took advantage of the president’s march to take photos with Morena supporters.
Between pushes, hugs and ‘waves’ of people
The march began between shoving and thus ended. Each of the steps that Andrés Manuel López Obrador took on the asphalt of the city that he governed between 2000 and 2006 caused eddies of people who wanted to touch or photograph the most “honest and intelligent” president, as they were described in slogans.
Although the march started minutes after 9:00 a.m., the preparation went back several days. On November 16, the president announced that he would march and 11 days later, he was already walking the streets.
When the president arrived at the appointment, the stage was already set. Thousands of supporters from the country’s 32 entities already packed the Paseo de la Reforma and nearby streets served as parking lots for the buses that were used to transport supporters of the president.
(David Santiago)
With shirts, mostly cherry and white -distinctive colors of Morena-, the attendees wore different phrases of support for the so-called “fourth transformation”, the president of or a politician, such as the Undersecretary of Security, Ricardo Mejía Berdeja, who seeks to be the candidate of Morena to the government of Coahuila.
“Don’t overdo it, INE” was read on the front of the shirts worn by supporters of Guanajuatense Ricardo Sheffield, federal consumer attorney, alluding to the electoral reform promoted by the president.
Members of his cabinet, who avoided the jostling while agreeing to greetings and selfies, were already waiting for him to flank each of his steps.
Shouts such as “it is an honor to be with Obrador”, the overflight of a helicopter over Mexico City and some drones in the air announced the arrival of the 65th president in the history of Mexico.
As soon as the politician from Tabasco stepped foot on Paseo de la Reforma, the pushing began. “Don’t throw yourself away, don’t throw yourself away!”, “A tragedy is going to happen here!”, “Let me out!” yelled someone who found themselves trapped by the whirlwind of people.
The president’s walk began with “waves of people” who lost their hats, caps, flags, sweaters and even cell phones because of the movement.
In 30 years, López Obrador has led several marches, but this Sunday’s was different because it was not about denouncing fraud or demonstrating against any reform, this time he did it to commemorate four years of his government and the progress, that assures, has the country.
