Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Neoliberalism

Andrés Manuel López Obrador unequivocally frames Neoliberalism as the ideological root of Mexico's socio-economic problems, including widespread inequality and systemic corruption that plagued the nation for decades prior to his presidency. He contends that the era defined by policies promoting deregulation, privatization, and free trade agreements, such as NAFTA, benefited only a small elite while harming the majority of the Mexican populace. His political project, dubbed the Fourth Transformation, is explicitly positioned as the antithesis to this economic model, advocating instead for a state-led development focused on social justice and national sovereignty.

He has frequently stated that the neoliberal period began in the 1980s and became entrenched through subsequent administrations, arguing that its legacy involves increased poverty and moral decay. Consequently, his administration has prioritized reversing or modifying key aspects associated with the neoliberal consensus, emphasizing public investment in infrastructure, energy sovereignty, and significant increases in social welfare programs, viewing these actions as necessary to combat the economic model's negative consequences. His political narrative consistently draws a stark contrast between his administration's aims and the neoliberal doctrines he seeks to fully overcome.