In the recent politics of Latin America, this June 6 election has assumed special importance because Mexico is the second largest country in the region after Brazil in terms of population and there has been a fresh surge of pink wave in the LA politics as a result of the backlash against the neo liberal policies pursued by many right wing regimes supported by American multinationals having business interests in mineral rich LA. Last year, the left led regime came back in Bolivia through national elections, but this year, the left got a setback in Ecuador as the expected victory of the left presidential candidate did not take place.

But in Brazil, the largest country in Latin America in terms of population, political tide is favouring the left as the former president Lula is out of prison after being freed from all charges by the Supreme Court and he will be contesting the coming presidential elections in 2022 against the present president Bolsonaro who is most discredited now and is facing demonstrations in all big cities of the country demanding his resignation. In Chile also, in the poll for new constitution, the left including both centrists and the communists have gained and discussions are on to field a common left candidate in the coming presidential elections.

In such a surcharged milieu in Latin American region, the elections are taking place in Mexico which has emerged as a sort of a referendum for or against the president AMLO to be reflected in the elections for lower house. Apart, there will be simultaneous elections for 2100 mayors and city councillors and 15 governorships. President AMLO represents Morena party but he has an alliance with other parties including the Mexican Communist Party.

Another important aspect is that AMLO’s alliance has to get two thirds of the 500 seats in the lower house to enable them to bring about the changes in the present constitution so that the transformation of the economy as proposed by AMLO and charted out by the Left Alliance can be implemented. This is a major task and all indications suggest that there is a big wave of support in favour of the Left Alliance which might lead to a two third majority.

However, there are challenges which AMLO has to overcome. The National Election Commission of Mexico is not favourably disposed to the president AMLO. The Commission has been creating many problems for the Left Alliance in the recent course of the campaigning. Then the US multinationals which might be affected if the President’s economic transformation policy is implemented, are mobilizing all resources including corporate media power against the Left candidates. In the latest opinion polls, there has been some decline in AMLO’s support compared to two weeks earlier, but still the support base is at high 40 per cent as against 17 per cent by the main rival Central Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) which got 17 per cent.

As far as the present economy is concerned, though the poor and lower income people have improved their lot, there was decline in economic growth and rise in unemployment due to global factors. Apart nation’s high crime rate, a sluggish economy from the coronavirus pandemic and government corruption are the main issues on voters’ minds heading into the elections. Many will also be looking at AMLO’s record since he came into office in 2018.

The president shook up the political status quo when he captured 53 percent support in the presidential election in 2018 riding a wave of discontent with Mexico’s traditional parties. Calling his plan the “Fourth Transformation” of the country, AMLO promised to improve the lives of the poor, root out corruption and heal a country reeling from uncontrolled gang violence.

Since then, his supporters – who are largely older and among Mexico’s poorer classes – credit him with raising the minimum wage, creating scholarships for students and training programmes for youth, and expanding benefits for seniors and people with disabilities.

But during the last three years, observers say the issues Lopez Obrador campaigned on have not improved. The Mexican economy shrank by 8.5 percent last year, and more than 35,000 murders were reported in 2019, AMLO’s first year in office, setting a new record. The homicide rate was virtually unchanged in 2020, and the first quarter of 2021 showed the trend continuing.

The election itself has been beset by violence. According to the Etellekt consulting firm, 88 politicians – including 34 candidates – have been murdered since the election season began last September. AMLO is in the election battle with some advantage in his favour but in Latin America, the voters are also unpredictable. So the political analysts, especially the Left observers are waiting anxiously for the outcome of June 6 voting. (IPA Service)