Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – In a significant display of civic engagement, over a thousand residents of Puerto Vallarta joined the nationwide march for democracy, echoing the concerns of millions across Mexico regarding the current government’s perceived threat to democratic institutions under President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s administration. The local march, which took place from Hidalgo Park to the Malecón arches, was a call for respect towards democratic institutions and an appeal for the security and integrity of electoral results ahead of the upcoming June 2nd elections.
The demonstration culminated at the Malecón arches, where Arnulfo Ortega Contreras, leader of the Business Coordinating Council, stood as the event’s sole speaker. Contreras emphasized the critical nature of the gathering, highlighting it as a historic moment for both the municipality of Puerto Vallarta and the nation. “Today, we stand united in defense of our democracy and the institutions that embody it. This event is part of a larger movement, with similar demonstrations occurring in over a hundred cities nationwide,” Contreras articulated.
Asserting the peaceful and voluntary nature of the assembly, Contreras stressed the participants’ dedication to defending the institutions that uphold Mexico’s democracy. “We are here to protect the National Electoral Institute (INE), the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation, and, most importantly, our hard-earned democracy,” he declared, voicing a demand for the slogan ‘Democracy Not Seen Toca’ to resonate loudly and clearly.
Contreras criticized the current government’s approach of excluding and disqualifying dissenting voices, labeling it as oppressive and counterproductive to the nation’s progress. “The mistreatment and humiliation by an authoritarian government that places its ideas above those of its citizens is the very antithesis of democracy,” he argued.
The business leader’s speech underscored the commitment of Puerto Vallarta’s citizens to a sustained and vigorous defense of democratic institutions. “Our demands for a truly democratic state are unwavering. We stand against the erosion of fundamental rights such as freedom of expression, individual integrity, and human rights. The existence of constitutional courts, autonomous and independent of the executive and legislative branches, is essential,” Contreras concluded, reinforcing the rally’s central message: “Democracy is not to be tampered with.”
This march in Puerto Vallarta signifies a broader concern among Mexican citizens about the state of democracy in their country, reflecting a collective resolve to safeguard their democratic institutions against perceived encroachments.
