Shannon O'Neil, Columnist

Mexicans Want Change That AMLO Can’t Bring

A massive planned march and strike over violence against women highlights rising discontent with his policies.

March 6, 2020 at 2:30 PM UTC

Shannon O'Neil is senior vice president and director of studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of "The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter."

Stuck in the past.
Photographer: Hector Vivas/Getty Images South America

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Mexico City is preparing for potentially its largest protest in years, with hundreds of thousands of women expected to fill the streets on Sunday, March 8, and then stay home from work, school and public life on Monday. Mayors, priests, school principals, business owners, celebrities and even the first lady (at least initially) voiced support. One person not on board? President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Lopez Obrador swept to power on a promise of change. Millions of Mexicans voted for him in the hopes that he would reduce crime, take on corruption and make life better for the average Mexican. But, as his response to the women’s movement shows, he is stuck in the past, held back by old attitudes and their accompanying outdated prescriptions. Unless his mindset changes, he won’t bring the change that Mexicans really want and fix the huge problems their country faces.