The fence on the perimeter of the National Palace of Mexico, intervened with names of victims of femicide. Seila montes
Andrés Manuel López Obrador's conflictive relationship with feminism is not new, but this year an ominous symbol, a wall and everything that word represents in a country like Mexico, has deepened the rejection of women's movements.
The deployment of security in the historic center of Mexico City in the face of the March 8 demonstrations has become the most controversial emblem of this International Women's Day.
The fence that the Government ordered to be placed on the perimeter of the National Palace "to protect and avoid provocations" during the marches called for Monday was intervened by activists who painted hundreds of names of victims of femicides.
The outrage turned the fence into a "wall of memory" against violence, as highlighted by several feminists on social networks, and on Sunday night phrases such as "Femicide Mexico" were projected on the facade of the palace.
The president, on the other hand, has attributed the criticism to a “smear campaign” of the right wing and has assured: “I am not a macho”.
The metal fences in front of the headquarters of the Executive and the official residence have been the main focus of the questions to the president before the 8-M since the end of the week.
The objections go much further than statements, almost constant, described as paternalistic, to the defense of Félix Salgado Macedonio, Morena's candidate in Guerrero denounced for rape, and they are not circumstantial.
However, the walls are very difficult symbols to defend despite the efforts of the authorities.
The presidential spokesman, Jesús Ramírez, tried on Saturday to soften the controversial charge of those images by speaking of a "wall of peace."
The president shielded himself from possible scenarios of violence in the mobilizations and today, from Palenque (Chiapas), he has avoided taking on the criticism and has opted for a counterattack.
"On the occasion of the new anniversary of Women's Day, a whole smear campaign has been unleashed against the Government and myself," says López Obrador in a video in which he tries to equate all his opponents, without nuances.
First of all, it refers to the right.
"She is very confused, annoyed, irritated and they become environmentalists or feminists ... the purpose is to attack the Government," she says.
The president insists that the fence was not placed "out of fear of women" but "out of precaution."
“The conservative forces are very backward, very authoritarian, they infiltrate people to generate violence, to harm.
Imagine allowing them to vandalize the National Palace, because that is what they want, a scandal, a great national and international note ”, he says.
Photogallery: Feminists create memorial of victims on the fence of the National Palace
Second, the president reiterates that the security forces will guarantee the peaceful protest and in no case will they repress the demonstrations.
“It is better to put up a fence than to put in front of the women who are going to protest the grenadiers, as it was before.
[...] You can even insult authority, that's allowed.
And thirdly, he resorts to a profound generalization when referring to those he calls "the provocateurs."
“They are very authoritarian, and I am going to say it, fascist, conservatives.
It's Hitler, it's Franco, it's Pinochet.
So they think ... what does that have to do with feminism?
On the contrary, that is the opposite of the feminist movement, ”she continues.
After mentioning three dictators and referring to Nazi and fascist regimes in a speech on feminism, López Obrador emphasizes: “And also to be clear: I am not a macho, I am in favor of women's rights, I am in favor of equality, I always have been ”.
Remember that for the first time in your six-year term there is a Secretary of the Interior and a Secretary of Public Security.
She takes credit for having improved parity in the institutions - "it is because of our struggle" - and insists: "I am a humanist, and I am not against feminism.
I am against corruption, against manipulation, I am against authoritarianism, against hypocrisy.
Now it turns out that conservatives are feminists?
That's too much".
In fact, the deep discomfort for that attitude has also spread in the ranks of Morena.
The Salgado Macedonio scandal, which marked the start of the campaign for the federal and legislative elections on June 6, has given rise to protests, more or less indirectly, by party leaders.
The politician, however, has received the closed support of the president and the apparatus.
A guarantee committee of the organization forced to repeat the survey that will determine the applicant and the result has not yet been announced, despite the fact that Salgado Macedonio is already registered with the electoral authority of the State of Guerrero.
The names of the victims painted on the fence of the National Palace are only a tiny sample of a forgotten structural violence.
In Mexico, more than 3,000 sexist murders are perpetrated each year, according to official figures, and 99% of crimes of sexual violence remain unpunished.
A SIMO Consulting survey published this Sunday by EL PAÍS indicates that 68% of Mexicans think that gender violence has grown a lot in the last year, while 62% consider that the president's behavior towards feminist movements has been inappropriate.
In general terms, however, López Obrador maintains a popular acceptance that reaches 65%.
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