Claudia Sheinbaum calls for "fair mediation" after controversy over Morena party vacations

In the middle of the holiday season and with various images spread on social networks showing Morena militants enjoying high-profile international destinations , the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum , called on the rulers to live in "just mediocrity" , evoking the historical principles of the movement that represents the Fourth Transformation (4T) .

During the presentation of the Cablebús Line 4 project, which will run through the municipalities of Tlalpan and Coyoacán in Mexico City, Sheinbaum used her speech to emphasize that public resources should be used for the people and not for personal luxuries .

"Just mediocrity" was a famous quote from Benito Juárez , the figure who inspires Morena's political ideology. In her speech, the president said:

“We rulers must live in a just middle ground, as Juárez said. (…) Public resources should never go into the pockets of a ruler; that's over. The people's resources are blessed and are returned to the people of Mexico in public works, welfare programs, education, healthcare, and housing.”

Although Sheinbaum did not mention specific names, her statement comes at a time when the federal government's austerity rhetoric has been challenged by the actions of some of its members.

The controversy began when social media users and media outlets shared images of prominent Morena figures vacationing abroad , while the party publicly upholds a policy of republican austerity .

Among the most discussed cases is that of Ricardo Monreal Ávila , Morena's coordinator in the Chamber of Deputies, who did not attend the party's National Council meeting because he was in Madrid, Spain . From there, he sent a message of support to Luisa María Alcalde, Secretary of the Interior and president of the National Council.

Another case was that of Mario Delgado , Secretary of Public Education and former national leader of Morena, who was captured while vacationing in Portugal . The images circulated widely and drew criticism due to their contrast with official discourse.

Finally, Andrés Manuel López Beltrán , son of former President López Obrador and current Secretary of Organization of Morena, was photographed in a luxurious hotel in Tokyo, Japan , in the company of Daniel Asaf , a close collaborator of the previous administration.

Images of these trips generated mixed reactions among party supporters and the opposition. For many, they contradict the principles Morena has promoted since its founding: honesty, austerity, and closeness to the people .

In response, Luisa María Alcalde , president of the Morena National Council, recalled that there is an internal mechanism to sanction possible violations of the party's principles:

"If anyone believes that someone in our movement is violating Morena's principles, such as austerity, or any other basic principle, they can report it to the National Commission for Honesty and Justice (CNHJ) ."

The CNHJ has the authority to open internal investigations and, if necessary, apply sanctions ranging from warnings to expulsion from the party.

Since Andrés Manuel López Obrador took office in 2018, republican austerity has been one of Morena's mainstays in terms of discourse and administration. During his term, the former president reduced his salary, eliminated major medical insurance, and sold the presidential plane as symbols of an austere government .

Claudia Sheinbaum has promised to continue this path, and her recent call reinforces the idea that her administration will not tolerate luxuries or excesses financed with public funds. However, this episode tests the party's internal coherence and ability to self-regulate without losing legitimacy .

Claudia Sheinbaum's call to live in "fair mediocrity" serves as a reminder of Morena's founding values , just as the party faces a new wave of criticism for the behavior of some of its leaders. Consistency between rhetoric and practice will be key to sustaining the legitimacy of a movement that promised to differentiate itself from the privileges of the past .