a first debate marked by personal attacks

First modification: 04/08/2024 – 11:30

3 min

On numerous occasions, the three candidates took advantage of the allotted time to launch personal attacks, for example, brandishing photos and statistics on cardboard signs to back up their words, as Jorge Álvarez Máynez did with one that said: “The campaigns are financed with illegal money and unfortunately we Mexicans are the ones who pay,” notes our correspondent in Mexico, Gwendolina Duval.

Violence is shaking the current electoral campaign, with some 15 candidates murdered since last October, according to the government, although the consulting firm Integralia counts 23.

“Claudia Sheinbaum comes to offer you to continue hugging criminals, to continue the violence; I offer you to build a Mexico where we put an end to violence, but above all that we bet on health and education,” said the right-wing opposition candidate.

Gálvez alluded to López Obrador's security policy – whose slogan is “hugs, not bullets” – which has failed to stop the violence of organized crime. Mexico has accumulated some 450,000 homicides and more than 100,000 disappearances since an open drug war was declared in 2006.

Gálvez, the main opponent, remained faithful to her strategy of attacking the current administration and, in turn, her main rival: “Claudia, corruption has never been as important as now. Her program is a program of corruption,” she said.

“Liar”, “corrupt” or “cold and heartless woman” were some of the epithets exchanged between the left-wing ruling party candidate and favorite, Claudia Sheinbaum, and her center-right rival Xóchitl Gálvez in the first of three face-to-face matches. mandatory before the June 2 elections.

Among the topics discussed were health, education and violence against women. The fight against corruption was a topic especially encouraged by the candidates.

Claudia Sheinbam highlighted her career as former mayor of the Mexican capital. She also defended her intention to follow in the footsteps of the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

The center-left Jorge Álvarez Máynez equally criticized his opponents and presented himself as an independent option from the government and the traditional parties.

The deliberation revolved around health, education, corruption and gender violence, but on repeated occasions the participants dedicated more time to attacking their adversaries or responding to these broadsides than to delving deeper into their approaches.

Here “two projects are going to be presented: returning to the past of corruption and what it means to advance with the transformation,” said Sheinbaum, a 61-year-old physicist, referring to the PRI and PAN parties that support Gálvez.

“Xóchitl was the one who had to because Claudia has the advantage.” Gálvez “harassed her and got everything she could from her because her strategy was to harass her looking for a reaction, but Claudia did not lose her composure,” noted Roy Campos.

From then on, the counterpoint escalated with accusations of “criminal negligence” against Sheinbaum, who has 59% of voting intentions according to a consolidated survey by the Oraculus firm. Gálvez, with 35% support according to that measurement, was in turn accused of corrupt practices to enrich herself.

Although it was not on the agenda, irregular migration to the United States through Mexico crept into the discussions with an agreement between the candidates on the need for a humanitarian approach.