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Mexico City, September 30 – Members of the Mexican Electricians’ Union (SME) staged a protest in front of a Reforma hotel in Mexico City, where the fourth edition of the “Free America Forum: United for Democracy” was being held. The event was organized by the National Action Party (PAN), identified with the right-wing in Mexico.
Demonstrators Reject Forum and Former President’s Participation
The union members expressed their rejection of the forum, which was headed by former President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa. They surrounded the building and threw tomatoes and eggs at the hotel where the event was taking place.
Calderón Calls for Opposition Electoral Machine
After a long absence from public events, Calderón Hinojosa reappeared at the Latin American right-wing forum, coinciding with the start of the 2026-2027 federal electoral process, which began on September 10 and will conclude with the elections on June 6, 2027.
During his participation, the former PAN president called on opposition parties to unite in the 2027 elections with an “electoral machine” to confront the majority party, Morena.
“We must build the citizen machinery that will defeat the state party’s machinery. That is the task. We must go district by district to summon citizens, the truly opposition parties, to mobilize,” Calderón stated.
Calderón also cited Venezuela’s political experience as an example and urged Mexican opposition parties to organize and strengthen their electoral structure. “Venezuelans are showing Mexicans a path,” said the former president, insisting on the need for opposition parties to build an electoral structure to compete in 2027.
Sheinbaum Questions Calderón’s Participation
For her part, President Claudia Sheinbaum also referred to Felipe Calderón’s participation in the Free America Forum during her morning press conference. She ironically questioned the former president’s discussion of democracy.
“The spurious Calderón talking about democracy. That’s the Mexican right. Welcome him to keep talking, go ahead, freedom of expression to the fullest,” Sheinbaum expressed.
She added: “I think Felipe Calderón is going to talk about democracy, right? It seems to me, I mean, because it’s his topic now. Maybe he’ll talk about García Luna.”
Sheinbaum made these comments with laughter and reiterated that the former president has the freedom to express his opinions.
Participants in the Free America Forum
In addition to Felipe Calderón, the meeting also included Jorge Romero, national president of the PAN; Andrés Pastrana, former president of Colombia; Luis Almagro, former secretary general of the Organization of American States (OAS); Mauricio Kuri, governor of Querétaro; Verónica Ruffo, daughter of former Baja California governor Ernesto Ruffo Appel; and Mauricio Tabe, mayor of Miguel Hidalgo.
The Free America Forum has been held in previous years in Mexico City and is part of a regional meeting that brings together political representatives and organizations from different Latin American countries. The Konrad Adenauer Foundation indicates that the forum’s international meetings are held annually.
