Mexico City, Mexico – A political shift that would have been unimaginable ten years ago has taken place. Alejandra del Moral, once a prominent figure in the conservative Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), has made a surprising move by resigning from the party and throwing her support behind the left-leaning Movement for National Regeneration (Morena). This decision came just days before a crucial election, where she was seen smiling arm in arm with Morena leader Claudia Sheinbaum. Del Moral, who had a long history with the PRI, cited the party’s changing values as her reason for leaving. This shift in allegiance reflects the changing landscape of Mexican politics, where the PRI, once a dominant force, is now struggling to regain its footing.
For much of the 20th century, the PRI maintained a tight grip on Mexican politics, using a well-established system of power to stay in control. However, allegations of violence and corruption tarnished the party’s reputation over the years. The PRI’s decline began in 2000 when it lost the presidency for the first time in 70 years. Despite a brief comeback in 2012, the party’s popularity continued to dwindle, leading to significant losses in subsequent elections. In 2023, del Moral’s unsuccessful bid for the governorship of the state of Mexico marked a historic defeat for the PRI.
As the June 2 presidential race approaches, the PRI finds itself trailing in the polls and forming alliances with former rivals in a last-ditch effort to rally support. However, their candidate, Xóchitl Gálvez, is facing an uphill battle against Morena’s Sheinbaum. The decline of the PRI can be attributed to a history of violence and corruption, which has eroded public trust in the party over time.
Experts point to the PRI’s once formidable political machine, which controlled all levels of government and maintained close ties with various sectors of society, as a key factor in its downfall. The party’s ability to respond to voter demands while retaining power was a double-edged sword, leading to accusations of electoral fraud and repression.
The PRI’s decline was further exacerbated by the implementation of neoliberal reforms and the failure to adapt to changing social and economic realities. The rise of Morena, led by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, has now become the dominant political force in Mexico, with Sheinbaum poised for a landslide victory in the upcoming election. The PRI’s struggle to remain relevant in this new political landscape underscores the changing dynamics of Mexican politics.