“Former Mexican Foreign Affairs Secretary Contemplates Party Exit Over Candidate Dispute”

Mexico’s Former Foreign Minister Threatens To Leave Party Over Candidate Selection Process

Marcelo Ebrard, Mexico’s former Foreign Affairs Secretary, has announced his intention to wait and observe how President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s ruling party handles his call to invalidate their recently concluded presidential candidate selection process. However, he cautioned that if he remains dissatisfied with the party’s response, he may choose to leave.

Ebrard revealed that his team has presented evidence of numerous irregularities to party leaders. These irregularities include allegations of government social programs being used to favor the candidacy of Claudia Sheinbaum and the interference of government officials in the selection process. Ebrard emphasized that if these issues persist, he will lose interest in remaining within the Morena party.

Speaking to reporters, Ebrard expressed his deep respect and affection for López Obrador, highlighting his unwavering loyalty to the President. He stressed that he would never act against López Obrador’s interests for political gain. However, Ebrard emphasized that the party must adhere to its stated principles and not engage in practices it claims to oppose.

He stated, “I have the greatest respect for the (party’s) popular representation, but my objective is not to secure a senatorship or a position. My objective is to see this issue resolved.”

Last week, Morena announced that Claudia Sheinbaum, a climate scientist and former Mexico City mayor, had won five internal party polls. Ebrard, refusing to accept the results, was conspicuously absent when other candidates expressed their support for Sheinbaum.

Ebrard had resigned from his post as foreign affairs minister in June to focus on his campaign. He formally challenged the selection process by filing a complaint with the party on Sunday, alleging dozens of irregularities that he claimed had unfairly favored Sheinbaum. He requested that the entire process be nullified and conducted anew.

The likelihood of the party’s leadership and López Obrador agreeing to nullify the process and hold it again now seems slim, as they have firmly rallied behind Sheinbaum as the party’s candidate. Sheinbaum herself has extended an open invitation to Ebrard to support her as Morena’s candidate.

In the midst of these developments, the broad opposition coalition has already selected Senator Xóchitl Gálvez as their candidate. Ebrard’s potential candidacy could introduce a third heavyweight contender in the race for Mexico’s next president.

Ebrard disclosed his plan to resume nationwide campaigning on September 18 to defend his position.