Introduction
Mexico’s autumn is marked by the vibrant Day of the Dead, a luminous celebration where the nation embraces the vibrant yellow of cempasúchil flowers, the aroma of copal, and the fluttering paper cutouts dancing with the wind. This powerful display of beauty also serves as a reminder of other, less visible absences: weakened institutions and eroded civic spaces.
Institutional Decline and Social Dissatisfaction
Alongside the list of faltering organizations, trusts, and projects under the self-proclaimed Fourth Transformation, there’s an unspoken death: social dissatisfaction. This “death” is artificial, as the ruling party has mastered the art of concealing discontent. A taxi driver in Oaxaca openly discussed Governor Salomón Jara’s wear and tear, who has promised to submit himself to a revocation of mandate.
While local discontent is part of daily life, it doesn’t always surface in national public conversation. However, there are moments when dissatisfaction is impossible to hide, such as in Poza Rica, Veracruz, earlier this month. Despite this, the intention to conceal persists.
Mixed Signals in International Relations
We’re assured that relations with the United States are “full steam ahead,” yet reality presents conflicting signals. The removal of additional tariffs starting November 1st is followed by the cancellation of thirteen Mexican airline routes by the U.S. Department of Transportation. These mixed messages contradict any triumphalist narrative.
Pemex, the world’s most indebted company, continues to fail in regularizing payments to its suppliers despite consistent financial support from the Treasury. Financial information is communicated opaquely, and the process of validating invoices progresses unpredictably. This narrative containment strategy avoids acknowledging the deterioration of the petroleum company.
The Power of the Morning Press Conference
There’s no denying the morning press conference’s power in taming public conversation. Despite some merits of President Claudia Sheinbaum, the press conference might be one of the pillars supporting her surprisingly high approval rating. These institutionalized “investment announcement Thursdays” serve as smokescreens for business discontent caused by an opaque, uncertain, and increasingly centralized regulatory environment.
A recent interview with S&P Global highlighted factors determining Latin American countries’ competitiveness, emphasizing institutional solidity, democratic strength, the rule of law, and security. Several of these deserve a place on this year’s altars.
Declining Institutional Performance
The World Justice Project recently released its 2025 Index, in which Mexico falls to 121 out of 143 countries, scoring 0.40 (on a scale from 0 to 1). Only Bolivia, Nicaragua, Haiti, and Venezuela rank lower in Latin America. These results are based on criteria such as legality, accountability, and human rights respect.
In the face of such compelling evidence, the expected official reaction will likely be to discredit the methodology or downplay the index’s significance. However, it becomes increasingly difficult to sustain a discourse attempting to mask reality with optimism. Mexico’s political tradition conceals death with honesty, while ignoring, masking, and denying it in institutions is a worse offering to the nation.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the Day of the Dead? The Day of the Dead, or Día de Muertos, is a Mexican holiday celebrated in autumn, characterized by vibrant colors, aromas, and symbols honoring deceased loved ones.
- What institutional issues is Mexico facing? Mexico is dealing with weakened institutions and eroded civic spaces, alongside a growing social dissatisfaction that the ruling party attempts to conceal.
- How are Mexico’s international relations? While officials claim smooth relations with the U.S., conflicting signals emerge, such as tariff removals followed by route cancellations for Mexican airlines.
- What’s the situation with Pemex? Despite financial support, Pemex struggles to regularize payments to suppliers, and its financial information is communicated opaquely.
- How does the morning press conference impact public opinion? The morning press conference, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, plays a significant role in shaping public opinion and maintaining her high approval ratings.
- What does the World Justice Project Index reveal about Mexico? The 2025 World Justice Project Index places Mexico at 121 out of 143 countries, highlighting concerns around legality, accountability, and human rights respect.
