A call for reflection at the University of Freedom
In a powerful speech, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, president of the Community of Madrid, addressed students and business leaders in Mexico City, where she launched a fierce critique of socialism, warning that its "chains" are threatening democracy both in Spain and Mexico. The intervention took place at the University of Freedom, an institution founded by Mexican businessman Ricardo Salinas Pliego.
Ayuso spared no effort in drawing parallels between the political situations in both countries. "This is how democracies die," she stated, referring to her experience with Mexico's ruling party, the National Regeneration Movement (Morena). She recalled her first visit to Mexico during the early campaigns of the party founded by former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, noting that she had already witnessed a similar populist phenomenon in Spain.
The Madrid president also emphasised the structural problems facing Mexico, mentioning that over 130,000 people have disappeared and that only 34% of students achieve a basic level of educational competence. "It is a country where millions lack access to basic services," Ayuso stressed, highlighting that this situation is a direct consequence of the type of government that has been established.
Ayuso warned about how socialist governments attack the separation of powers and weaken institutions by replacing qualified professionals with activists lacking judgement. "When one realises it, it is too late," she cautioned, suggesting that the move towards a totalitarian system can be subtle but devastating.
During her stay in Mexico City, Ayuso has held meetings with figures from the conservative wing, including a meeting with Alessandra Rojo de la Vega, mayor of the Cuauhtémoc municipality and a member of the National Action Party (PAN). However, she avoided making direct comments about the current Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum, or about the so-called "narco-states" in Latin America.
Despite the bleak picture described by Ayuso, she concluded her speech with an optimistic message: it is possible to free oneself from socialism and its harmful effects. Her visit has sparked a wide debate about the political future in both Spain and Mexico.
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