Orchestras and ‘marmots’ at the party with the scent of farewell

Mexico City. The sixth State of the Union report was for thousands of people a moment to begin saying goodbye to Andrés Manuel López Orador, one month before he leaves the Presidency. Some attendees considered that the Tabasco native will be remembered as “one of the best presidents in the country,” because he reduced poverty, allocated resources for infrastructure and implemented welfare programs, including the pension for senior citizens, people with disabilities, as well as Jóvenes Construyendo el Futuro and the Benito Juárez scholarships.

GALLERY: AMLO delivers his sixth and final report in front of thousands of citizens

“Long live the President. May he continue to be so cool. May he not let anyone, not even the United States, take his place,” said Alejandro Goytia Serrano, 72.

Music, traditional costumes, signs and cries of support surrounded this report, which was heard by thousands of people in the Zócalo and on the main avenues of the city’s main square.

People arrived very early by all means of transportation, carrying the Mexican flag. There were people from Oaxaca, Puebla, Guerrero, the State of Mexico, Hidalgo, to mention a few states. They were Mexicans of all ages, a large part of them senior citizens who managed to occupy some of the 25 thousand seats that the authorities placed for the event in which the head of the Executive gave an account to the citizens.

#VideosLaJornada With music and dressed in traditional costumes, citizens from various states of the country prepare to march together towards the #Plinth capital, from Juarez Avenue, where the president @lopezobrador_ will offer its sixth and final #governmentreport.… pic.twitter.com/lcbomhC5Ie

— La Jornada (@lajornadaonline) September 1, 2024

Some arrived accompanied by orchestras, musical bands or batucadas, as well as Oaxacan marmots (huge paper spheres with written messages). They wore t-shirts that said: “Thank you, President”, several more carried banners with phrases such as: “It is an honor to be with Obrador”, “Love is paid with love”, “I love the 4T”, while chanting “Long live Mexico, bastards”, “President, President”, “The reform of the Judicial Branch is going”, “plan C” and they showed off portraits, figures and stuffed animals of the federal president and his elected successor, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, who will also be the first woman to occupy the presidential chair of Mexico.

Víctor Manuel Sánchez Mercado is 32 years old and moved with his family from Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl, State of Mexico, to the Plaza de la Constitución. “This six-year term was very different from all the previous ones. Everything that López Obrador has done has been very important, especially with young people; he has supported everyone from children to the elderly. He is undoubtedly a great example for Mexicans.”

“Thank you very much, President, for what you have done, for opening our eyes, for the culture you have taught us, to feel proud of our nation and thank you very much for your daily work. It has been very important for us because it made us love and believe in our country, in ourselves, that we can do anything. Long live President López Obrador!”

For Mrs. Jovita Flores Cedillo, this six-year term was a revolution of consciences and of authentic nationalism. “We recovered the love for our country, the natural resources that had been plundered, our dignity as a country in the eyes of foreigners. Andrés Manuel taught us to think, to be aware. We want to continue with the transformation. I thank him for everything he did for us, for all the people, for all the infrastructure he built at a national level to project the country at a global level. Thank you, President, long life.”

Berenice Nava Martínez pointed out that the president is the first to give an open report to the people. “Before, the president in office would do it behind closed doors so that deputies and senators could applaud him. Now the entire people know about his achievements and we are happy with his work. He has worked like no one else. Thank you very much, President, for having thought of the poorest families, for having shared your time, your life, for not having taken anything in your pockets and for being attentive to children, young people, adults and seniors, and people with disabilities.

“Thank you very much, President, we will miss you. Fortunately, you are leaving us with our dear Claudia Sheinbaum, who will do a good job and we have to support her,” added Rufina Montero.

Juan Martín Nava Dávila, from Iztacalco, mentioned that López Obrador “radically transformed the country for the benefit of all citizens.”