Ebrard, the loose end of the Mexican ruling party after the election of Sheinbaum’s candidacy

The election of Claudia Sheinbaum as presidential candidate of the ruling National Regeneration Movement (Morena) ended up involved in a scandal, after her main rival, former Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, denounced alleged irregularities that could culminate in her resignation from the party founded by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Since the process began, Ebrard assured that Sheinbaum’s campaign was misusing public resources, that he had a marked favoritism by the main figures of the party, that its financing was opaque, that it improperly promoted the vote and that in its acts there was “carrying”, that is, a hired or conditioned public.

In this climate of tension and growing dissatisfaction on the part of Ebrard, the day of the definition arrived: the day in which the results of the five surveys that were carried out would be known to know which of the six pre-candidates had the greatest intention to vote and who, therefore, would be designated Coordinator of the Defense Committees of the Fourth Transformation, and then presidential candidate.

Nobody doubted that the chosen one would be Sheinbaum, since all the polls carried out throughout the year coincided in positioning her in first place, followed by Ebrard, who in recent weeks insisted that the polls were manipulated and that he did have a good chance of winning the election.

Thus, The only unknown was knowing how Ebrard would react to the foreseeable defeat. Whether he would act institutionally and accept the victory of his rival, or whether he would “break” the election, challenge the results and completely affect the process.

And, indeed, that last was what happened. In addition, Ebrard opened the door to the possibility of resigning from Morena and running under the acronym of another party.

Crisis

The leaders of Morena, the political force that in 2024 will seek re-election in alliance with the Labor (PT) and Green Ecologist of Mexico (PVEM) parties, announced that the results would be announced on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. in a hotel in Mexico City.

But before, everything exploded. After noon, Ebrard reported that his representative in the process, Senator Malu Micher, had been prevented from entering the place where the surveys were being evaluated, even though he had the respective accreditation.

“They forcibly prevent our representation from entering the counting of Morena’s ballots. How sad (…) I never thought I would experience something like this in my own game“wrote the former chancellor on his social networks. The scandal was unstoppable.

Later, in a recorded message, He called the president of Morena “cowards”Mario Delgado, and the general secretary of the party, Alfonso Durazo and said that they resembled the old PRI, the party that, thanks to corruption, monopolized the political life of Mexico for seven decades.

He also warned about multiple anomalies in the polls, demanded that the process be repeated and confirmed that he would not attend the event in which the results would be announced because he was no longer part of the race.

In those fateful hours, Ebrard held a private meeting with his team to evaluate the steps to follow. The newspaper El Pais, which managed to enter that meeting, reported a lapidary phrase from the former chancellor against Sheinbaum: “We are not going to submit to that lady.”

A while later, during the event in which his victory was confirmed, Sheinbaum thanked his opponents: the former Secretary of the Interior, Adan Augusto Lopez; the deputy Gerardo Gonzalez Norona and the senators Ricardo Monreal and Manuel Velasco, who were present to raise her arm as the winner. He didn’t even mention Ebrard.

“Unity is fundamental and the doors will never be closed,” he said in a general way and without mentioning any names, knowing that Ebrard was considering leaving the party.

Bankruptcy

Sheinbaum’s victory was overshadowed by the strong controversy that the former chancellor caused with his complaints and with the statements he made to different media during the afternoon and evening of Wednesday.

Although Ebrard confirmed that he will only meet with his team next Monday to define his future, in several notes he warned that it still cannot be ruled out that his name appears on the presidential candidate ballot on June 2, 2024.

This fueled the rumors that had already circulated for weeks, about the possibility that the former chancellor He will run with the Citizen Movement party.

“I was participating in this process so that the people’s decision would be respected. On Monday we will see what paths we take to ensure that this is fulfilled. What we are not going to allow is that we are not allowed to compete,” he stated.

A while later, his representative, Malu Micher, stated that there was no way they would leave Morena, but in several notes Ebrard insisted that he has not yet made a final decision.

“It’s not a tantrum, I am a statesman, but everything has a limit. Everything has a limit, There comes a point where if you stay silent, then you are validating something that you do not agree with, “she said, assuring that he will not accept” a consolation prize, “that is, a charge.

“They are forcing me to choose between being in Morena or defending what I believe. And I am going to defend what I believe,” he warned in what would represent a historic break, since he is one of the main leaders of the Morena foundation.