Mexican Politics: Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas dies at 92
The former Michoacán governor and presidential candidate passed away in Mexico City, prompting tributes from current and former leaders.
By Thomas Rogers ·
Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Solórzano died on Wednesday at the age of 92. The former civil engineer and politician was a central figure in the modernization of Mexico's left wing. He was born in Mexico City and was the son of Lázaro Cárdenas del Río, who served as president from December 1, 1934, to November 30, 1940.
Cárdenas Solórzano studied civil engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. He later entered politics and served as the governor of Michoacán. He founded the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) in the 1990s. Before that, he had broken away from the long-ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
His most famous run for the presidency occurred in 1988. He ran under the banner of the National Democratic Front. On election day, the federal electoral commission's computer system crashed. When power was restored, the count showed Carlos Salinas de Gortari as the winner. Cárdenas Solórzano accepted the result without publicly denouncing fraud. He sought the presidency again in 1994 and 2000 as the PRD candidate. He lost both times.
In 1997, he became the head of government for the Federal District, now known as Mexico City. He led the government until 2000. His approach to politics emphasized voting and democratic processes over violent conflict. This stance gained him recognition outside of Mexico.
President Claudia Sheinbaum paid tribute to him on the social media platform X. She described him as a man of firm principles who transformed political life. She noted that his republican conviction remains a key reference for the nation. She highlighted his role in leading a peaceful democratic movement in 1988 that channeled the desire for change among millions of voters.
Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador also posted condolences on X. He called Cárdenas Solórzano a precursor of the democratic movement in recent Mexican history. López Obrador stated that the political reality of the country would be different without him. He said the late leader leaves behind teachings and ideals that never die.
Source: La Opinión
