In democracy, a strong opposition is necessary: ​​López Obrador

In a democracy, there must be a strong opposition, said President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who refused to comment on the re-election of Alejandro Moreno, head of the PRI, but recalled that there are many political leaders who do not even know the declaration of principles of the political parties.

“Can’t political parties be consistent with their principles, with their ideals? There is a document that is requested when they are formed, called the declaration of principles. Many militants and leaders don’t even know the party’s declaration of principles,” he emphasized. In a morning press conference at the National Palace, he stressed that there is a big difference between what is stated in the declaration of principles and what the parties put into practice. He indicated that each of these organizations, which the Constitution recognizes as being of public interest, have at least three basic documents, including the action program, which establishes their proposals in terms of oil policy, agriculture, education, health, housing, among others, but “they don’t conform to that either.”

He said that in democracy, counterweights and balances are needed. “Democracy is so that no one, at any level, feels absolute. Democracy is competition, it is a confrontation of ideas, of projects, it is plurality, it is the opposite of dictatorship, so there needs to be strong opposition parties that have principles, because that is also often forgotten.”

President López Obrador stressed that political parties also have statutes, but “sometimes they are not respected, they are violated.” Therefore, he stressed that it is necessary to strengthen the parties, which are “fundamental in a democracy, and it is convenient that there is opposition, it is as if a town, there is only one store, no matter how good the shopkeeper is, there will always be the temptation to sell the merchandise for a high price, and even to scold the customers.”

He insisted that Mexico has a “very conscious and participative people, like few people in the world. They are empowered, and it may be a famous intellectual, a very prosperous businessman, a very prominent radio or television commentator, but the people rule, and that has always bothered conservatives a lot, not just now, they have never accepted it.”

He also recalled last weekend’s protest in front of the National Electoral Institute, over alleged overrepresentation in Congress, and “after filling the main square, there were about 2,000 people, very small, very diminished, because there are already many people who are getting more informed.”