Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) is just about at the end of his presidential term. The inauguration of his successor, Claudia Sheinbaum, is scheduled for October 1st, 2024.
The term of a Mexican president is six years, with no re-election. However, AMLO’s term is two months shy of six years, due to a constitutional change made in 2014 which is taking effect now. This changes the inauguration (Transmisión del Poder Ejecutivo Federal) from the beginning of December to the beginning of October.
On September 29th, AMLO was in Quintana Roo state, in far eastern Mexico. The presidente was there for a ceremony marking the end of the construction of the new Maya Train in the Yucatan Peninsula. Part of the railroad began operation in December of 2023.
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Here is a photo of AMLO waving to folks at the ceremony:
AMLO possesses highly-effective political skills and is an example of perseverance, having lost the presidential race twice (2006 and 2012), and then winning in 2018 with a new political party that he founded. That party is now the dominant party of Mexico. (see The Astonishing Growth and Power of Mexico’s MORENA Party).
Claudia Sheinbaum, AMLO’s protege and now successor, was elected in June. AMLO has been very active in the transition period, continuing to drive policy, including the unprecedented judicial reform which was recently passed.
What will AMLO’s role be after his term is over? Is he going to retire to his ranch in Chiapas and write books, as he said? Or is still going to be active politically behind the scenes? Mexico is about to find out.
Here is a photo of AMLO with U.S. President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, taken in January of 2023:
As for AMLO’s political legacy as president of Mexico, that is liable to be a hot topic of discussion in this time of transition and beyond.