Breathe
By Jaina Pereyra
The heat and probably the evening's debate forced a much earlier call than the previous ones. It was also requested that the rally be held directly in the Zócalo, instead of a march. Reforma was full of pink t-shirts, people giving away stickers and pamphlets to promote the vote, and mostly middle, upper and lower class families dressed in white and pink.
My favorite thing about the marches that come to the Zócalo is the commerce that magically emerges because of the march. The street merchants understand perfectly the crux of the matter. While in previous marches they sold banners with the legend "INE is not touching", in this one they sold the Mexican flag - aware of the disagreements around the hoisting of the flag in the Zócalo and the proposal to carry their own - The "defense of democracy" bandanas were sold to the rhythm of the cheer "whoever doesn't buy a bandana from me is because he/she is for Morena". And perhaps that last phrase was the big difference with previous pink marches.
While in previous calls partisan chants had been silenced, in this one they were welcome, albeit faint. There were party banners, mostly PAN and PRD, and groups with campaign merchandise: umbrellas, bags, stickers, but really most of the people did not seem to be there for the excitement of a candidacy, but for the principle of resistance to the López Obrador government and its effects on democratic life.
The call was difficult to articulate. It was not in defense of INE, it was in defense of the rules of democracy and it was probably the anticipation of a vote for the opposition alliance, but the feeling was precisely what Xóchitl was later able to articulate in the only phrase of her speech that I remember: more than a party, we have a Republic .
Upon arriving on Madero Street, the accesses to the Zócalo were blocked. This provoked anger and shouts of "Morena out". When we entered someone mentioned "yes, the flag is there". "Yes, it is ours, we brought it," said a man who did not know that the military had always raised it in the morning.
The speeches reminded me of that movie from the nineties: white men don't know how to jump, few democrats know how to emote. None of them seemed very memorable to me, although Xochitl's seemed to understand better the electorate that was there. In broad strokes she said that it was not about winning, but about what for. It was not about parties, but about principles. It was not about revenge, but about democratic conquests. The people interrupted her with applause, but did not seem enthusiastic. I did not see the joy of other marches until I reviewed the videos on social networks showing the size of the rally.
Once again it was a gathering with people of all ages, but mostly adults in their thirties and up. I saw several older adults with oxygen tanks or wheelchairs, boys and girls. I saw very few young people. I don't remember it being like that in the march for the INE.
I have never liked campaigns. I have never worked with candidates that I would not support with my vote. I have a hard time with hyperbole. It makes me conflicted to generate manipulated narratives, I don't like the tone of political discourse that, in the absence of conviction, assumes a Salinist tone. I do not understand why they train candidates to speak with their hands and throat, and not with their heart and belly. This lack of "T-shirt" has generated problems for me, especially with parties that are not democratic (I will tell you later which one).
Maybe that's why I found today's rally uncomfortable. I liked being part of the civil society that had taken to the streets for a cause, rather than for a party. Unfortunately, I also understand that today that cause is being settled in a candidacy. And I believe that in that sense, the alliance did understand its electorate well. People who see the regression. People who even voted for López Obrador and who today see the risks of the concentration of power in one person, in one party; who fear institutional destruction.
I do not know if this electorate will be enough to stop the authoritarian regression. I do not believe that insisting on the disaster is going to attract more votes. I think it is time to show statesmanship. I know that the size of the rally will give many hope that they are more pink voters than they seem. Let's hope that the debate (which - as of this writing - starts in three minutes) will give us a guideline for a more presidential closing. The hard part is coming. Hopefully in two weeks we can celebrate.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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