Introduction to Jesús Ramírez Cuevas and the Congreso Panamericano
Jesús Ramírez Cuevas, the coordinator of advisors to Mexico’s Presidency, delivered a speech during the inaugural day of the Congreso Panamericano. With only five minutes to address distinguished guests, Ramírez Cuevas aimed to convey a message that went beyond mere welcomes. He pledged to break away from the neoliberal policies of the past 40 years, which had created an elite class comprising not just the traditional 1%, but also a false political, economic, and media elite that legitimized and supported their projects.
Ramírez Cuevas’ Message to Mexican Politicians
Addressing nearly a hundred international guests, including fifty parliamentarians from progressive governments across the region, Ramírez Cuevas seemed to direct his criticism towards Mexican lawmakers under public scrutiny for their opulence. He denounced those who legalized land dispossession in exchange for political transitions that integrated progressive sectors into governments, yet never questioned the prevailing model.
The Fourth Transformation and its Challenges
Mexico’s delegation at the Congreso Panamericano boasted of the “democratic and popular revolution” that led to the Fourth Transformation. However, they also acknowledged its main challenges and limitations. Senator Gerardo Fernández Noroña, along with Secretaries Alicia Bárcena (Semarnat) and Citlalli Hernández (Mujeres), joined Ramírez Cuevas in condemning the “culture of privilege.”
A New Hemispheric Cooperation Agenda
With a proposal to establish a new hemispheric cooperation agenda based on solidarity among peoples and sovereignty among nations, nearly a hundred accredited delegates from a dozen countries responded to the invitation of Mexico’s progressives.
- Prominent attendees included U.S. congressmembers Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, Barbados’ Transportation Minister Colin E. Jordan, Canadian Michael Coteau and Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, as well as Portuguese speakers Talita Petrone, Fernanda Melchionna, and Henrique Dos Santos Vieira Lima.
- Many were repeat participants from the first Congreso Panamericano held in Bogotá a year prior. Among the new frente parlamentario’s articulators was David Adler, coordinator general of the International Progresista, a frequent visitor to Mexico.
The Congreso Panamericano: A Five-Day Event
The progressive visitors spent five days in Mexico City, beginning with an opulent opening on the evening of Thursday, 31st, at Palacio Nacional with President Claudia Sheinbaum. The following day featured two public events at Teatro Esperanza Iris, showcasing presentations from Canadian intellectual Naomi Klein, former Bolivian Vice President Álvaro García-Linera, Colombian Senator María José Pizarro (a presidential precandidate), and Argentine-born Spanish constitutionalist Gerardo Pisarello.
Honduran Leader’s Call for Action
Luis Redondo, president of Honduras’ Asamblea Nacional and the Foro de Congresistas de Centroamérica, respectfully urged attendees to make the Declaration of Mexico City a turning point for leftists in the hemisphere. He emphasized the need to condense a clear roadmap with concrete commitments in response to the rise of fascism and ultra-right movements.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who is Jesús Ramírez Cuevas? He is the coordinator of advisors to Mexico’s Presidency, who delivered a speech at the Congreso Panamericano, calling for a break from neoliberal policies.
- What is the Congreso Panamericano? It is a gathering of progressive politicians and intellectuals from across the Americas, aiming to establish a new cooperation agenda based on solidarity and sovereignty.
- What are the main challenges faced by Mexico’s Fourth Transformation? The delegation acknowledged the need to eliminate the “culture of privilege” and address opulence among politicians, while also recognizing limitations inherent in the transformation process.
- Who were some notable attendees at the Congreso Panamericano? Prominent figures included U.S. congressmembers Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, Barbados’ Transportation Minister Colin E. Jordan, Canadian Michael Coteau and Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, as well as Portuguese speakers Talita Petrone, Fernanda Melchionna, and Henrique Dos Santos Vieira Lima.
