López Obrador wins the elections in Mexico: the night of change to the left that took 30 years to witness

The place was taken by thousands of people who dance, sing, clap and wave flags

It is the Zócalo, the political heartland of the country, on the night of July 1 after that 39 National Electoral Institute confirmed the news They were waiting for:

Andrés Manuel López Obrador won the largest presidential election in the history of Mexico.

This is the third attempt of the identified candidate with the left, and many of those thousands who are celebrating now were at his side.

The square illuminates when AMLO, as he is known in the country, repeats his central election promises which, he says, will be the axis of his government:

"Do not lie, do not steal, do not betray the people", promises. A night of joy that many expected to live a long time. Some for several decades.

Because they were not always happy. Thirty years ago, Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, then candidate of the left, led unprecedented days of protest against alleged electoral fraud.

The politician is the son of former President Lázaro Cárdenas, one of Mexico's most beloved leaders.

That year, he participated in the presidential race supported by a coalition of left-wing parties. 19659002] On the evening of the election, for example, the official system to receive the count of votes extinguished

When it was reactivated, the advantage of the opponent had disappeared. Cárdenas initiated from the Zócalo a tour of the country to denounce the alleged fraud

Calm down

Months later, in September 1988, the crowd gathered in the square demanded that the candidate take ] National Palace a few meters from the meeting.

The Engineer, as he was known (that is his job), took a long time to calm the spirits.

In addition to the time when he was traveling to the west of the country, where in those years was my place of work as a journalist, I had to testify .

Cárdenas delayed his events to talk to the peasant columns – sometimes with shotguns – who joined the movement.

"You are the son of El Tata," they said. "And what the son of my general says is an order."

In some indigenous towns, the father of the family called Tata. The same name was used to name the former President Cárdenas.

This was the preamble of the protests on the country's main political place.

To those who demanded a violent exit from the electoral crisis, Cárdenas announced the creation of the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD).

The square became the center of daily protests against the winner of the controversial trial. Carlos Salinas de Gortari.

Since then, the square has become a bastion of leftist movements.

In each presidential election, Cárdenas and then López Obrador filled this space where thousands of people can adapt.

In Mexico City, reporters learned that this was only a first picture of the story.

The other, at the end of the campaign, was the crowd gathered to protest

until the night of July 1, 2018, when López Obrador celebrated the victory with thousands of supporters. "I will not miss you," he promised.

His image appeared on the giant television screens used to broadcast the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Everyone applauds, euphoric. A pending celebration because the Zócalo, the political heart of the country, took 30 years to receive a victorious left-wing president.

The New Stage

The night of triumph is very different from that of 12 years ago. The Zócalo welcomed a crowd like this, but instead of songs there were cries of anger.

It was in July 2006 that López Obrador wanted to be president for the first time. After a controversial campaign, he lost the contest for a difference of 0.56%

There were no smiles or cuddles. Instead, a thick and widespread feeling of sadness, anger, frustration, helplessness is installed.

In a particularly busy badembly, it was decided to resist what they called the fraud attempt . installed a huge Zócalo camp in the middle of the Paseo de la Reforma.

It is one of the most emblematic avenues of the Mexican capital. For months, hundreds of tents remained on their sidewalks and in their gardens.

In almost every media, there has been an intense criticism campaign. According to several investigations, the Planton Reformation – as the protest was called – then had a high cost to the image of the candidate

Fidelity

Entrenched, supporters of López Obrador were enduring hot mornings with afternoons and nights of rain

With days like these, it seemed easy to lose patience. But that did not happen like that. He was particularly noticed among the elders who camped, perhaps the most faithful disciples of AMLO.

In these months, in Zócalo, there were bademblies almost every day. Older adults, as authorities call elders, were always the first to arrive.

And also the most willing to talk to reporters. In some people's answers, I realized that this movement was not born in 2006.

The resistance, they said, was not just against the fraud attempt that was made. they were denouncing at that time, but to defend the politician – they said –

When he was head of government in Mexico City (2000-2005), López Obrador put in sets up a universal retirement system for the elderly.

The program has been severely criticized, but several governments – even the federal government – have implemented it.

For the elderly in the camp, AMLO was one of the few to be busy with it. And love with love is paid, repeated then

I remember in 2018, during the first hours of the day after the presidential triumph of López Obrador.

In the Paseo de la Reforma, hundreds of people walk They come back from the central square while they sing and wave flags.

Dozens of cars stop while the horns are ringing. The scandal lasts hours

These are the same streets where they met frustration and anger. Today, you are celebrating the joy of victory.

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