Breathe
By Sandra Romandía
I must admit that this debate for the Mexico City's chief of government seemed decaffeinated and predictable: the characters in this race are nothing like those of the previous one in 2018 when Claudia Sheinbaum, Alejandra Barrales, Purificacion Carpinteyro and three others competed. It was a ring with too many adversaries together, but some of them with interesting profiles.But in yesterday's debate between the candidates Clara Brugada, from the official bloc; Santiago Taboada from PRI-PAN-PRD; and Salomón Chertorivksi from Movimiento Ciudadano, interesting data emerged, unknown personalities were revealed and arguments were made. Also, of course, senseless denigrations, almost comical acts out of place and fanciful promises.
Sunday, March 17, 2024 was an important day for the citizens of Mexico City, a day in which we had the opportunity to see the candidates in action, presenting their proposals and visions to lead the country's capital. However, what promised to be a routine debate turned into a scenario where surprises and shocks turned out to be somewhat interesting.
Let's start with the candidate who surprised with his direct and forceful accusations: Santiago Taboada. This representative of the PRI-PAN-PRD coalition did not skimp on pointing out alleged irregularities and alleged cases of corruption not known related to Clara Brugada, highlighting the acquisition of a property for a ridiculously low figure and exposing documents to back up his claims. Taboada demonstrated unusual clarity and assertiveness compared to his promotions, although it should be noted that his over-reliance on notes may have detracted somewhat from his spontaneity and freshness.
On the other hand, Clara Brugada, the candidate of the official bloc, failed to dazzle in terms of oratory and presentation. Although her proposals were detailed and targeted key issues such as legal certainty, support for local businesses and the transformation of mobility, her lack of emphasis and intonation detracted from her impact in a scenario where effective communication plays a fundamental role. "Clara's voice, we don't know if she speaks or cries," wrote communication analyst Bárbara Tijerina in X. It is important to note that, although I usually support female representation, the reality is that oratory skills and stage presence are crucial aspects to connect with the audience and convey confidence, and in this case Clara was left behind because of it.
As for Salomón Chertorivski, his intervention was more a representation of how unnecessary humor can be in a serious context such as an electoral debate. While it is important to maintain a light tone at appropriate moments, his focus on the comedic diverted attention from the concrete proposals and solid arguments that citizens were expecting to hear.
The accusations of everyone towards everyone at the end of the debate left a bittersweet taste in the mouth; some with accurate data and others with the same phrases we have been hearing for decades. In summary, the electoral debate for Mexico City's Chief of Government exposed several facets of the candidates. From Santiago Taboada's forcefulness to Clara Brugada's communication deficiencies and Salomón Chertorivski's lack of focus, we were left with the feeling that political promises lack real numbers and that true leadership capacity goes beyond empty words and superficial strategies.
It is time for citizens to carefully analyze every proposal, every past and present action of the candidates, in order to make an informed and conscious decision in the upcoming elections. Mexico City is thirsty for powerful leadership that embraces the welfare of its people and turns challenges into real doors to a future of progress.
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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