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Editor's Note: Patricio Morelos is a political communication consultant. Political scientist from ITESM and specialist in Government Management from UCJC. He is currently a student of the Master in Political Communication and Strategic Governance at The George Washington University. University professor of Political Marketing and Citizenship and Democracy subjects at the Tecnológico de Monterrey.
(CNN Spanish) - One of the main objectives of political actors is to be known. Raising the level of knowledge facilitates access to power: you start talking about yourself, you are considered in the polls and, of course, you position yourself as a competitive option to obtain candidacies and win elections.
That is why politicians of all ideological currents invest time, money and effort so that their face and name appear the most number of times in front of the citizen.
At specific moments, such as crises, opportunities arise for the emergence of leaderships that gain public trust. Leaders who give certainty for problem solving and even, as we will see now, charismatic leaders who become communicational phenomena.
Dr. Hugo López-Gatell is proof of this.
- MIRA: López-Gatell: a region of Mexico flattened the coronavirus infection curve
Until a couple of months ago, Dr. López-Gatell served as Mexico's undersecretary for Prevention and Health Promotion, an important task but little known to citizens. A character respected in the health sector for his academic and professional career, with studies at prestigious universities such as Johns Hopkins and the National Institute of Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán.
Her life changed radically in a matter of weeks. With the arrival of the covid-19 in Mexico, Dr. López-Gatell became the key character in the fight against the virus. From that moment on, the focus of attention focused on this scientist who, little by little, began to be analyzed as a politician.
The undersecretary appears every day at 7 PM (Mexico City time) to present a report on the progress of the pandemic. He expresses himself very simply, as if he were teaching at a university. He answers to journalists and addresses them by name. And now, the phrases of "# QuédateEnCasa" and "With pleasure I will explain it again" became fashionable. Dr. López-Gatell started showing up everywhere, all the time.
A survey carried out by the company Comunicación Política shows that 62.57% of the Mexicans consulted know Dr. López-Gatell. In addition, it mentions that 65.3% have a positive opinion about the work they do.
An exponential growth that very few politicians have managed to obtain. Their numbers today are compared to those of key figures in the president's circle, such as Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard and Morena federal deputy Tatiana Clouthier.
Now, not everything has been positive. Dr. López-Gatell has been questioned for a series of statements and decisions that raise doubts about the actions of the government. We cannot forget his affirmation that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador "has moral strength and not contagion" or the different positions he has taken on the use of mask covers. It has also been criticized by some governors for the lack of medical supplies and for the number of cases, which they claim, is much higher.
Regardless of this, it cannot be denied that Dr. López-Gatell is a media phenomenon. For the good and also for the bad. It occupies the covers of social magazines and the headlines of newspapers. They tell us about their love life. It has videos, memes, stickers and animations. The photos of his childhood and youth are shared, to the extent that he has positioned himself as a kind of "sex symbol". His clothing is analyzed, from the fact of not wearing a tie until he gives a press conference in a polo shirt.
We see the undersecretary on YouTube, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or Twitter, where he is constantly trending.
- MORE: López-Gatell: Flattening the curve implies postponing the end of the pandemic in Mexico
For the first time in recent Mexican history, a scientist steals the limelight from politicians. To such an extent that they are already talking about him as a possible candidate for the Presidency of the Republic for the next elections. A circumstance that you probably never imagined.
In particular, I don't think so. The politics is of moments and the crisis of the covid-19 has an expiration date. If it works, it would be natural for him to be appointed Secretary of Health. However, to run for the presidency of the country would have to maintain its popularity, which would be extremely difficult in times when health will not be the main issue.
Both President López Obrador and Dr. López-Gatell have already made their bet. Time will tell us if the strategy used was effective or not, and at that moment we will have to speak again about the leadership of the undersecretary or the fleeting hope of a new political figure in the country.
For the good of Mexico, hopefully the López Obrador government's strategy will result in a victory for the country. In the meantime, those of us who can stay at home. It is our responsibility.
Coronavirus Hugo López-Gatell