What is surprising about the inauguration of AIFA

In fact, and as much as we can see the images and messages during the inauguration of the Felipe Angeles International Airport (AIFA), there is nothing new that we have not heard of the president's speech or communication tactics. What's more, it can be said that we had a very watery show.

For starters, it is well known that Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) has loved great works for more than 20 years, when he moved sky, sea and land to build the second floor of the Mexico City Peripheral. He organized a plebiscite where even 10% of the register did not participate, and considered it binding. Until today we do not know how public resources were exercised, since reserves are decades away.

As if that were not enough, for each monument that remains in force, there are several white elephants. An example? Precisely those who travel on the second floor can see the traces of a bicycle path, which runs along the tracks of the old railway to Cuernavaca. Many sections are impossible to travel and several are even unsafe for those who want to travel even on foot. Whether the new airport will be a lasting work or another blunder remains to be seen.

Nor does his way of communicating attract attention. True, to your detractors it may sound vulgar or ordinary, but for your audience it is authentic. Let's go even further: this image of authenticity makes the difference between rulers considered “populist” to politicians who are “always” stubborn. In other words, the strategy is not only predictable, but also follows a global pattern.

The tlayudas, donuts and market stalls? Once again, he is disguising as authenticity and contact with the people a work that, as happens again and again with each administration, is half delivered — as was once Line 12 of the Metro in Mexico City, just to give an example. But in what worshipers and ill-wishers of the president face on social media, we avoid discussing substantive issues, such as the lack of connectivity of the new airport.

However, we have also seen this almost daily throughout this government: two sides facing each other and dedicated to denouncing each other, while avoiding discussing the country's serious problems, such as insecurity and corruption. Polarization is precisely one of the reasons for the president's enormous popularity, since it makes everything revolve around him and not about a shared country project.

Finally, this great work has another objective: to show achievements and increase its popularity towards 2024, whether you want to impose on a person of your choice, or outright seek to manipulate the Constitution to re-elect yourself. And as happened when he was Head of Government of the then Federal District, he still insists today that he will retire after his six-year term, as he said before that we should leave him for dead towards 2006. It is enough that a crowd seems to demand its permanence so that, reluctantly, it says that it cannot ignore the people.

So, if what we saw last Monday is nothing more than a reissue of the same show, what would be amazing? In my opinion, let them continue to be surprised or outraged by a predictable set of tactics. It seems that López Obrador's detractors are so enraptured by his figure and stature, not daring for some reason to show their true feelings. From hatred to love there is a step, they say, and the question would be whether that step will be taken to the left or to the right.

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