The president of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, declared at the weekend that his country was nearing the end of the coronavirus crisis, and told supporters that ‘small lights’ could already be seen at the end of the tunnel.
The next day, he tested positive for Covid-19 and shook the country – and once again criticized his cavalier response to a disease that killed nearly 150,000 civilians.
During the pandemic, López Obrador – popularly known as Amlo – was condemned for his seemingly carefree behavior: he constantly underestimated the severity of the crisis, still touring the country and rarely seeing him wear a mask.
‘It’s as if Amlo was looking [infection], ”Said Rodolfo Soriano-Núñez, a sociologist in Mexico City, using a general reference for the president. “He was really indifferent.”
The diagnosis came at a gloomy moment for Mexico. The daily death toll for most of January is more than 1,000, and Mexico is expected to surpass India soon to become third on the list of countries hardest hit.
The president’s political allies responded to his positive test with outpourings of support for a president who remained popular despite the dire impact of the pandemic.
Some expressions descended into fanaticism – “Why not give me Covid instead of Andrés Manuel,” Beatriz Castillo tweeted, a pro-Amlo writer. On social media, Amlo supporters posted reports about Amlo refusing to wear a mask.
“Most Amlo supporters – though not all – seem to be much more concerned about defending him than they are about the thoroughness of his policy to protect the health of their fellow Mexicans,” said Carlos Bravo Regidor, ‘ a professor at the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics.
‘There is not even a shadow of civic duty or critical consciousness in their reactions. They are just militants and sycophants. ”
Amlo announced his positive test Sunday night after we flew back from the north central city of San Luis Potosí. Social media videos showed him like any other passenger boarding the plane, raising questions about the president’s diagnosis during a busy day of public events and meetings.
The president, who has a history of heart issues and was a heavy smoker before having a massive heart attack in 2013, said he had ‘mild symptoms’ and received medical help. He has maintained that his health has been good since he entered service, and he often speaks of avoiding bad habits such as eating junk food.
Despite his age and high blood pressure, López Obrador did not receive a vaccine shot, although Mexico received many doses of Pfizer-BioNTech.
He promised to continue working, although for the first time in two years he skipped his daily press conference of the morning, which he usually uses to refute criticism and spread sunny messages that Mexico has already passed the worst.
Home Affairs Minister Olga Sánchez Cordero addressed the press conference on Monday, saying Amlo is feeling well and remains in control of the government.
“He will recover soon,” said Sánchez Cordero, who was not wearing a mask.
Senior officials were tested and several came into isolation after the diagnosis.
“The reality is that they have to worry a lot about his health,” Bárbara González, a Monterrey political analyst, said of the president’s supporters. There is no ‘Obradorismo’ without Obrador. “