Introduction
Throughout history, Mexican presidents have declared “mission accomplished” at the end of their terms. However, when they fail to meet set goals or only partially achieve them, they tend to avoid discussing these shortcomings. Voters are generally aware that most objectives remain unmet, participating in a perverse game of implied values. Politicians who make promises know there are obstacles they cannot overcome.
Recent Criticism and Historical Context
During a recent address, President Sheinbaum mocked the unfulfilled promises of neoliberal presidents. Examples include López Portillo defending the peso, Miguel de la Madrid’s anti-corruption war, Fox’s airport project, and Calderón’s refinery. There is ample criticism to be had across all administrations.
However, Sheinbaum did not mention that the most concerning case is the previous administration under López Obrador. Not only did he fail to meet his promises, but he also lied about accomplishing them. Many of his supporters knew this yet still voted for him again. This topic will be explored further in another article.
López Obrador’s Failures and Lies
AMLO not only failed to meet his promises but also accumulated failures that will burden the nation for years to come. Those who warned about his intentions to dismantle democratic advances were ignored or dismissed. Many analysts who now express concern initially believed he was another messianic, populist, and lying president; they were mistaken.
Some issues he did not even attempt to address, such as the problem of disappeared persons. This remains Mexico’s most significant wound, with an army of silenced voices: parents, children, siblings, mothers, daughters, friends. The searching mothers walk through mountains seeking the 128,000 disappeared individuals. Now, they face the risk of losing what little life remains to them.
Search groups approached the Palacio Nacional but were never received. Now, they are greeted by Secretary Rosa Icela Rodríguez, with the president claiming that their concerns have been “addressed.” This is a reiteration of the old PRI tactic, still practiced today.
Violence and Disappearances
Violence and disappearances are interconnected issues where López Obrador has failed miserably. Sheinbaum conceals these failures while using statistics to decrease the reported homicide numbers. Sadly, homicides and disappearances are only the tip of the iceberg; beneath them lie criminal organizations armed with accountants, lawyers, doctors, police officers, government officials, and private businesses—as demonstrated by the huachicol case.
The Huachicol Issue
Upon taking office in December 2018, AMLO declared his intention to end huachicol (illegal fuel theft). He accused authorities and complicit officials of being part of a scheme involving stolen fuel from pipelines, with huachicoleos operating at both the grassroots and top levels.
A year later, in his September 1, 2019, governance report, AMLO boasted that huachicol had been “practically” eliminated due to the government’s strategy. Throughout his term, he repeated this claim multiple times, sometimes moderating his language to say that efforts were still ongoing.
Nine months after leaving office, it’s clear that AMLO lied again. Under Sheinbaum’s administration, over nine million liters of hydrocarbons have been seized—more than in the past decade. The most significant confiscations include:
- Coahuila (July 2025): 15.48 million liters secured in railroad tanker cars
- Tampico, Tamaulipas (April 8): 10 million liters seized from a US-originating tanker vessel
- Ensenada, Baja California (March 28): 8 million liters decommissioned
- Tabasco (May 29): 3.123 million liters secured
These “successes” against huachicol raise a question: where are the arrested individuals, the heads of criminal organizations, or the implicated businesses? Perhaps López Obrador was correct that only a small portion of hydrocarbons is stolen from pipelines, with the rest coming from PEMEX or foreign sources.
If AMLO is right, corruption remains rampant, and the government is merely biting its own tail through seizures, similar to an ouroboros.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the main issue discussed in this article? The broken promises and unfulfilled pledges of Mexican presidents, focusing on the recent criticism by President Sheinbaum and the failures of López Obrador’s administration.
- What specific examples of unfulfilled promises are mentioned? Examples include López Portillo defending the peso, Miguel de la Madrid’s anti-corruption war, Fox’s airport project, and Calderón’s refinery.
- What significant issues did López Obrador fail to address? One major issue is the problem of disappeared persons, with over 128,000 individuals reported missing in Mexico.
- How has López Obrador’s administration handled the huachicol issue? Despite claims of eliminating or significantly reducing huachicol, seizures under Sheinbaum’s administration have surpassed previous decade totals, raising questions about the effectiveness of the government’s strategy.
