June 27, 2023

Earlier this month, several officials resigned from their posts to pursue their presidential candidacy with the MORENA party. This included Mexico City Governor Claudia Sheinbaum, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard, and Secretary of the Interior Adan Augusto Lopez. MORENA’s candidates were asked to present their resignation to be eligible and will tour the country as part of their pre-campaign efforts until late August. MORENA will then implement a series of surveys, that will determine an official presidential candidate on September 6. Meanwhile, President Lopez Obrador has appointed replacements following each resignation, including Luisa Maria Alcalde as the new Secretary of the Interior and Alicia Barcena as Secretary of Foreign Affairs.

Opposing parties submitted claims to electoral authorities to challenge MORENA’s pre-campaign efforts which would give their final candidate a clear advantage, prompting the National Electoral Institute (INE) to remind political parties that presidential campaigns officially start in November and any promotion and activities taking place beforehand would be against the law. MORENA’s pre-candidates risk losing their right to run.

The “Va por Mexico” coalition composed of the PAN, PRI, and PRD political parties will announce their presidential candidate on September 3. Interested politicians within the opposition include Senator Claudia Ruiz Massieu, former Secretary of Economy Idelfonso Guajardo, Senator Xochitl Galvez, and businessman Gustavo de Hoyos.