96: Can Somos México Revitalize Mexican Democracy?

Can the emerging Somos México movement unite Mexico’s political opposition? Since coming to power in 2018, the Morena party has maintained broad popular support. But under its rule, Mexico’s democratic institutions have faced growing strain. Judicial and electoral reforms, the dismantling of regulatory and oversight agencies, and the militarization of public security have increasingly concentrated power within the executive branch, while the country continues to face high levels of political violence. To date, Mexico’s opposition has struggled to effectively mobilize around these challenges. Enter Somos México, a new movement that aims to promote governance grounded in rights and the rule of law, according to one of its leaders, former Mexican Sen. Emilio Álvarez Icaza. Álvarez Icaza joined host Tony Payan to discuss democratic backsliding under Morena, the coalition behind Somos México, and the challenges of establishing a viable political party ahead of the 2027 midterm elections. Their conversation was recorded on May 15, 2026. Featured: Former Sen. Emilio Álvarez Icaza, Ph.D.: https://emilioalvarezicaza.com. More about our host, Tony Payan, Ph.D.: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/tony-payan. You can follow @Baker_CUSMX and @BakerInstitute on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Learn more about our data-driven, nonpartisan policy research and analysis at bakerinstitute.org.