As the six-year term of the current administration draws to a close, the Mexican government’s relationship with drug cartels is raising questions about its commitment to security and public safety. The past few years have been marked by escalating violence, reminiscent of the tumultuous era following the Mexican Revolution.
Critics point to several instances suggesting government complicity with the cartels, most notably the controversial “hugs, no bullets” security policy that is viewed as a non-aggression pact rather than an effective strategy. High-profile visits by the president to Badiraguato, the stronghold of the Cartel de Sinaloa, where he greeted the mother of Chapo Guzmán, only add to the suspicion.
The troubling connection between cartels and politics was further highlighted in the recent elections, where criminals kidnapped, killed, and threatened opposition candidates. This intimidation paved the way for the ruling party, Morena (founded by the President of Mexico), to secure more than one governorship and several municipalities, leaving citizens deeply concerned.
The government’s failure to curb violence has emboldened criminal groups, who now exercise a monopoly on violence that should be the sole domain of the state. Cartels extort money, rob businesses, traffic women and children, and commit murder with impunity, effectively ruling entire regions. Cartels even have control over what media reports, which could explain why the current president holds historic approval ratings under historic violence and corruption in Mexico.
Despite possessing the weapons, resources, and intelligence to combat the cartels, the government appears unwilling to act, seemingly preferring an impunity pact with criminal gangs. This failure to act, critics argue, will be the defining legacy of the current president.
One event that highlights the tragic toll of the violence was the murder of five young people in Lagos de Moreno. President López Obrador’s refusal to even acknowledge the incident demonstrates a disconnect between the government and the people. With over 156,000 murders reported since the beginning of the administration, and estimates projecting a total of nearly 180,000 by the end of the term, the violence has reached levels equivalent to filling the Azteca Stadium twice.
The question of how to end the violence remains unanswered. The solution requires a combined effort from the government and society at large. One thing is certain, the “hugs, no bullets” approach has not worked.
Currently, the President of Mexico holds historic approval ratings, and his hand-picked candidate to proceed him, Claudia Sheinbaum, who is a favorite to win the next presidential election, promised to carry on with the policies of President López Obrador.
