Introduction
Mexico City’s mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum, often highlights the legacy of her predecessor, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO). However, the legacy she inherits is more akin to a minefield than a generous inheritance. Nearly all aspects of governance come with inherited problems.
Sheinbaum’s Challenge: Balancing Legacy and New Issues
Sheinbaum attempts to address these issues quietly while trying to maintain the essence of the obradorista narrative, though without AMLO’s skill in creating it. Moreover, if AMLO exhibited authoritarian tendencies, Sheinbaum displays them to a greater degree. Her responses to discomforting criticisms often involve announcing that a cabinet member will address the issue or cutting off her interlocutor.
New Challenges Facing Sheinbaum
Beyond the inherited issues, Sheinbaum now confronts situations AMLO did not, such as a more aggressive and threatening figure reminiscent of former U.S. President Trump.
Inherited Issues
- Economic: Déficit and debt issues
- Security: Organized crime
- Social: Health and education
- Environmental: Various environmental concerns
- Human Rights: The issue of the disappeared, being the most serious
- Political: Impresentable politicians linked to the authoritarian and corrupt past, suspected of collusion with organized crime.
The Case of Senator Adán Augusto López Hernández
One notable case is that of Senator Adán Augusto López Hernández, who is increasingly linked to Hernán Bermúdez Requena (Comandante H), his former state security secretary in Tabasco. This connection had been hinted at through intelligence reports obtained by hacking the Sedena emails in 2022 by the Guacamaya collective, identifying Bermúdez Requena as “Comandante H” controlling strategic areas in Tabasco.
Despite escalating violence, these indications were largely ignored until recent arrest warrants issued by state authorities against Bermúdez Requena and other ‘La Barredora’ criminal group leaders. This development reinforces the idea of links between this individual and Senator López Hernández.
Sheinbaum’s Response
Sheinbaum claims Senator López Hernández is not under investigation while simultaneously deferring to Fiscal General de la República Gertz Manero’s office. In reality, she can only try to dodge the issue and hope it subsides.
Key Questions and Answers
- Q: What challenges is Sheinbaum facing?
- Q: How is Sheinbaum addressing these issues?
- Q: What is the significance of the Comandante H case?
A: Sheinbaum is grappling with inherited issues from AMLO’s administration and new challenges, including a more aggressive figure reminiscent of Trump. She also faces the growing scandal linking Senator Adán Augusto López Hernández to Hernán Bermúdez Requena, suspected of ties to organized crime.
A: Sheinbaum attempts to resolve these issues quietly while maintaining the obradorista narrative, though without AMLO’s skill in creating it. She responds to criticisms by announcing cabinet members will address the issues or cutting off interlocutors.
A: The Comandante H case highlights the links between Hernán Bermúdez Requena and Senator Adán Augusto López Hernández, raising concerns about collusion with organized crime. This situation echoes AMLO’s criticism of former President Calderón’s alleged ignorance of García Luna’s misconduct.
