The first parade of Morena's candidates for the presidency

Claudia Sheinbaum, head of government of the capital, speaks during the event on Monday. Daniel Augusto (Cuartoscuro)

The legislative course begins by marking what the year will be: a parade of applicants until Morena defines her candidate one good day.

This was the case this Monday in the fourth plenary session of the party in the Congress of Deputies where those who have applied to succeed Andrés Manuel López Obrador were invited.

As the meeting expressed itself freely during the interventions, in anticipation, perhaps, that the applause and praise would turn into whistles on some occasion, the master of ceremonies, Ignacio Mier, did nothing but call for unity to the "brothers ” and “sisters” gathered there.

But if his speech is to be interpreted, between the lines it could be read almost like a small scolding when he introduced Ricardo Monreal, his counterpart in the Senate.

"In the morning we started, Ricardo, talking about unity, that we are a family, that we are brothers,

and that it is not just another metaphor for political demagoguery, ”he released.

Monreal is usually the loose verse and his statements sometimes cause stinging among his own.

Monreal delivered a very labor-oriented speech, about what has been done in these four years at the legislative level and what remains to be done.

And he took the opportunity to present his new book, which has not yet gone on sale, a gift that he brought to the deputies, where he left his main words between the lines, beginning with the title: To err is human, to rectify is political.

To whom to apply that phrase he did not say.

It would be easier to guess the addressee of other chapters, such as the one dedicated to Pericles, to talk about "arrogance being the path to social distancing and the decline of democracy", or that of Aristotle, about how "political pretense destroys to society”.

Each one, his conclusions.

The most advanced in the old polls, now perhaps somewhat changed after the latest events in the Mexico City subway, its head of government, Claudia Sheinbaum, also asked for the support of her own: "Slandered comrade, comrade who must be defended , that is the unit ”, he requested the morenistas.

Sheinbaum has been strongly attacked in recent weeks by surprising incidents on the subway almost daily and that since her government have been blamed on a campaign of sabotage.

Ignacio Mier, coordinator of the Morenista deputies, raises his hand to Adán Augusto López, Secretary of the Interior. Daniel Augusto (Cuartoscuro)

The mayoress took advantage of her speech to go on a tour of the successes of her term.

And she began with education, a subject that is rarely touched upon in the federal government, to say nothing or almost nothing.

The scholarships received by children who study in the city, with an investment of 6,500 million pesos, which will grow to 7,000 this year: "We do not believe in meritocracy and even less in childhood, if a child arrives without breakfast they cannot have the same qualification as the one in other conditions”.

She was also proud of the two new universities, Rosario Castellanos and the University of Health.

Mobility, especially for poor neighborhoods, with the trolleybus, the cablebus and the best in the suburban.

She also mentioned the many public parks created or renovated, as many as 16 across the city.

"Leisure should not be associated with consumption or social differentiation," he said.

She cited feminist policies, such as the expulsion of an abuser from the house if the judge decides so, even if the house belongs to the aggressor, the lighting of the sidewalks, 710 kilometers of free trails, or the 27 women's care centers.

Sheinbaum, like so many in Morena, always carries President López Obrador and his Fourth Transformation on his banner.

All the candidates know that it is vital for the fight that is coming.

At the time of the Spanish invasion in Mexico, a battle took place in which both natives and foreigners carried the Virgin of Guadalupe on their flag, historians still smile thinking about the plight of the poor lady before so many who entrusted themselves to her.

This is how this political fight is waged in Morena, focused on a single deity, so to speak.

Marcelo Ebrard before his participation in the plenary. Daniel Augusto (Cuartoscuro)

Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, therefore, grabbed the same banner, to emphasize that the president has achieved calm diplomacy despite saying what he thinks, even if it is in the face of the world's first president, President Joe Biden.

"I have a notebook where I write down everything he tells them and he has told them what he thinks, because a good relationship with the United States does not have to be based on a strategy of submission but of reciprocity and mutual respect for sovereignty."

The foreign minister also spoke of a solidarity and inclusive democracy with all, of the Mexico that welcomes and mentioned the case of the Peruvian crisis, the seriousness of which is manifested in the death toll in the street protests since Pedro Castillo left the palace to enter the dungeon.

His family took refuge in Mexico and the work of the expelled ambassador was praised.

Ebrard placed special interest in the lawsuits that have been filed against United States companies on the issue of weapons entering Mexico, including anti-aircraft power.

"These are companies that should be linked to drug trafficking."

By mandate of the president, he added he.

"We won't let go of that."

Adán Augusto López, the fourth in contention, was the first applicant to address his co-religionists in the morning: brief and without much substance.

He appealed again for unity: "We need everyone, here there is no one left over," he said.

And he urged the deputies to campaign in their territories, that is, to communicate the management of the 4T in every corner of the country.

And whenever they want, Adán Augusto will help them in this mission, he told them.

Unity and it is not political demagogy, said the presenter Mier.

It is a pity that days before it had come to public opinion that Monreal had not been mentioned as one of the attendees at the plenary session held this Monday.

There were calls between the two, apologies for the omission and, finally, Monreal accepted the invitation.

"Unity, brothers."

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