Dear colleagues:
A few months ago, at the last Morena congress, on September 22, 2024, I decided to take a leave of absence from our party, as I would begin my role as constitutional president of the United Mexican States on October 1. My speech at that congress focused on the history of our Movement and what, from my perspective, are our principles and our causes.
I consider it important, even though I have taken leave, to recall that speech and make some modest suggestions to the Morena leadership, for the good of our country, our people, and our Movement.
We must never forget that our Movement was formed over decades, bringing together hundreds of thousands of Mexicans who came from different struggles: student, worker, peasant, against repression, for democracy, against corruption, against neoliberalism.
People from diverse backgrounds and different social sectors built a strong alliance that managed to win the presidency in 2018, despite electoral fraud, repression, and virtually all media outlets against us. It wasn’t easy; it was a long road.
Different generations lived together and followed a man who, like the greats of our history, taught us not to give up, not to waver in the defense of our people and our nation. Andrés Manuel López Obrador proved himself a true social and political leader with principles, thought, action, conviction, and vision.
Along the way, he won the hearts of the people and kept them, and will always keep them, because not only did he never betray their trust, but he also fulfilled his role as a leader and more than fulfilled his role as president. Moreover, in the process, he knew how to recover historical memory, empower and restore the dignity of our people and our homeland.
Let us all remember that Morena, our party, was conceived at a very special historical moment. The 2012 elections were about to take place, and Andrés Manuel López Obrador had the vision that a new political organization was necessary. Thus, in 2011, Morena was established as a civil association and began its construction phase as a political party, registering in November 2012, following a nationwide consultation of those of us who had been close to our Movement.
While political elites were making deals against the people and the nation, some of us decided to build a new political organization. The goal was always to transform Mexico through peaceful, electoral means, to leave behind the model of corruption and privilege and build the well-being and happiness of our people.
With reasons and arguments, knocking door to door, speaking to millions of people, distributing the Regeneración newspaper, holding meetings throughout the country, we formed the National Regeneration Movement.
We were registered in 2014. 2015 was the first election we participated in, just 10 years ago, and we obtained 9% of the national vote.
Three years later, convincing millions of Mexicans to join the movement, he won the presidency of the Republic. Just over six years later, we can say with certainty that the Fourth Transformation is a reality. Our country is more just, free, democratic, and sovereign than it was before 2018.
It was demonstrated that a new development model is possible. It was proven that when there is honesty and the economy is irrigated from below, there are results. In this process, the people of Mexico recognized the strength of their unity, their history, and their dignity, and today they are more aware and empowered than ever.
On June 2, 2024, the people of Mexico expressed themselves freely at the polls and once again made a historic decision: to continue the Fourth Transformation of public life and elect a woman as president of Mexico for the first time in 200 years of the Republic.
We obtained nearly 60% of the vote and a supermajority in the House of Representatives and the Senate. Morena and our allies, our movement, have won 23 governorships, the Mexico City Mayor’s Office, and the majority of local congresses.
In recent months, we have maintained our course. We have managed public resources with honesty and responsibility, and we have maintained and expanded the welfare programs that support more than 30 million families.
Let us always remember that the recognition of our government is because the people know we are close to them and that we will never betray them.
Access to healthcare and public education is being strengthened. Construction of one million homes as a social right has begun, and construction of trains to the north has already begun, while construction continues for the south of the country. Highway and drinking water works are being strengthened; CFE and Pemex are being further restored as public companies. The minimum wage has been raised again, three times higher than inflation.
Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples and communities were recognized as legal entities and, for the first time, received a budget, which they exercise directly. Formal employment continues to grow, macroeconomic stability exists, and sovereignty is defended with dignity and commitment. This June 1st, a historic election will be held. For the first time, we will elect the Judiciary.
Let us always remember that the recognition of our government is because the people know we are close to them and that we will never betray them. We exercise power with humility and consider public resources sacred. We report daily and travel the country with closeness and passion.
Therefore, we must never forget our past. There is always a lesson there. Let us not be mistaken. Money and power are not a person’s success, but rather their legacy in the fight for the rights of the Mexican people, democracy, freedoms, and the homeland. Our legacy lies in the example we can leave our sons and daughters.
For all these reasons, I would like to recall the points I presented at that conference and suggest that they be considered by everyone as ethical and political principles of our Movement.
- The Value of Unity. I don’t think I’m exaggerating when I say that we are the strongest social and political movement on the planet, because we have clear thinking and solid principles. The unity we have achieved is not trivial. Look at other movements around the world and see the Mexican right facing internal divisions sustained by unscrupulous breaches of pacts.
Because UNITY in our Transformation Movement is built on principles, on the causes for which we have always fought, on the recognition that together we are invincible, and on the mother of all our aspirations: the well-being of the Mexican people and the supreme interest of the homeland, which are above any personal interests. Let us never bet on division.
Let us not fall into sectarianism, nor, conversely, into excessive, unprincipled pragmatism. In his book “Gracias,” Andrés Manuel López Obrador reminds us, “Politicians are not divided into good and bad; they are distinguished, above all, by their actions in certain circumstances.” The line is often thin, but “we must combine principles with effectiveness. Even more so now that there is a voracious, neo-fascist right wing, the unity of all of us who stand within the spectrum of progressive forces is required.” - All Morena members must conduct themselves with honesty, humility, and simplicity. The trappings of power are from the past of corruption and privilege, not from Morena. Let us never fall into frivolity, consumerism, and the ambition for power and money.
It is not part of our Movement to travel in private planes or helicopters, or to yearn to wear designer clothes, or to mistreat people, or to travel with bodyguards and a retinue of vans to get from one place to another, or to eat in expensive restaurants.
Morena is humility. Morena doesn’t look down on anyone unless it’s to help them rise. Let’s make solidarity, fraternity, love of neighbor, and love of the people our most important values. Let’s always fight against discrimination, racism, classism, and machismo. - Legislators should not be present at international conferences, using public resources to travel abroad for political tourism. This is only justified in a special situation for an essential task.
Our duty is to be with the people, on the ground. Let us remember that Morena is the instrument of the Mexican people. Morena must be a beacon of honesty and an example in society. - Cronyism, influence peddling, and nepotism must never be permitted. It is essential that, even though the Constitution establishes that relatives cannot be candidates for any elected office in the immediate term until 2030, Morena include them starting in 2027.
- No to a state party. The government of the republic fulfills its tasks for the transformation of the country, and the party fulfills its own. To achieve this, our party must strengthen itself without falling into corporatism. Organization is for transformation. Morena’s strength lies in its grassroots organization. Its grassroots committees, its constant contact with the people, as we know how to do, door-to-door, delivering the newspaper Regeneración.
- Keep the political training institute (INFP) strong and solid, consolidating Mexican humanism as our philosophy and continuing the revolution of consciences. I suggest that basic readings, documentaries, and other resources be provided to all members of our Movement. Everyone should be familiar with the history of Mexico, the history of the formation of Morena, the principles of our Movement, the achievements of President López Obrador’s term, and the main projects and achievements of our government.
- Morena is both a Party and a Movement. Social mobilization to defend the rights of the Mexican people and the consolidation of our thinking must continue to be our strength. Political organization makes sense when it has causes. That cause is the defense of transformation.
- Governments emanating from Morena must guarantee republican austerity and closeness to the people, and the principle that for the good of all, the poor come first.
- There can be no collusion with crime, whether organized or white-collar.
- Ensure that candidates are chosen by the people through polls. This has been one of our greatest strengths. Let’s strengthen the election commission and ensure that the polling commission conducts candidate selection with transparency and methodological rigor. As long as multi-member candidates continue to exist, ensure that they are selected through raffles within the framework of the party’s statutes.
For participation in the 2027 election, it’s important to have clear rules. I suggest the Morena Executive Committee propose them to the Council in January 2026, in compliance with electoral laws. Let’s remember that the best campaign is the one that’s groundbreaking, the one that goes door-to-door, the one that convinces, not the one that uses the most financial resources, but the one that’s closest to the people.
For the purpose of defining the transformation coordinators in states and municipalities, I consider it important that the use of billboards, the promotion of private services, hate campaigns against other survey participants, and, of course, the use of public resources, not be permitted. Door-to-door campaigns, flyers, leaflets, and posters should always be our form of communication.
What distinguishes us? What are we? Humanists who love our homeland and have a profound love for the people of Mexico and our history.
We are outraged by discrimination, classism, racism, sexism, inequality, and poverty, and we will fight until the last day of our lives so that Mexicans can eat healthy food three times a day and have access to education, healthcare, clothing, and housing.
We will fight for the defense of Mexico and all Mexicans. We do not believe in consumerism, nor the power of money, nor in greed, and no, we do not bow down to the powerful. We believe in a Mexico of freedom, of justice, a sovereign Mexico, of true democracy where the people of Mexico always rule.
Let us remember that the commitment to the people and to history is profound and involves giving everything.
We cannot forget where we come from, otherwise we will forget where we are going. It’s not about achieving power for the sake of it, it’s not about personal ambition that should guide us, but about the well-being of the people.
Let us always remember that the end never justifies the means, because if principles are lost along the way, it will be difficult to recover them. Let us internalize that our honesty must be evident in our political practices.
Let us always remember that power is humility. These foundations are what have allowed us to rebuild our country and move forward after the long night of neoliberalism.
Let’s not be complacent. Much is at stake, the present and future of our nation. With the people, everything; without the people, nothing.
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo
Mexico City, May 4, 2025