On November 30, 2025, Mexico’s political landscape was shaken by the unexpected reappearance of former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) in a video message from his retirement home in Palenque, Chiapas. The timing, the message, and the motivations behind this return to public discourse have become the subject of national debate, especially as President Claudia Sheinbaum faces mounting political challenges and a shifting public mood.
AMLO’s appearance was not a grand rally or a press conference, but a carefully crafted video disseminated through social media—an approach that, as columnist Rodolfo Rivera Pacheco pointed out in El Sol de Puebla, is now “more rapid and effective than massive events” and allows the sender to control the narrative without interruption. In this video, López Obrador presented his new book, Grandeza, which he described as a tribute to the indigenous peoples and the rich cultural tapestry of pre-Hispanic Mexico. According to his own words, “the book aims to vindicate the indigenous peoples of ancient Mexico.”
Yet, as Rivera Pacheco observed, AMLO is not a historian. “He is a politician with specific ideological views that everyone knows,” he wrote, suggesting that while the book claims historical rigor, it is likely to reflect López Obrador’s personal and political perspectives. Nevertheless, AMLO asserted in his video that he had consulted numerous sources to support his work, insisting on its seriousness and historical grounding.
But the book itself was only part of the story. The real impact of AMLO’s video lay in its timing and its underlying message. President Claudia Sheinbaum, who succeeded López Obrador in 2024, is currently navigating a stormy period marked by a spike in national insecurity, high-profile corruption scandals, natural disasters that have exposed governmental shortcomings, and a recent shake-up in the Attorney General’s office. These events have, according to Rivera Pacheco, led to a noticeable dip in Sheinbaum’s approval ratings and cast doubt on the once unassailable dominance of the ruling Morena party ahead of the 2027 elections.
In this context, AMLO’s reemergence appears anything but coincidental. As Rivera Pacheco notes, “Sheinbaum and Morena need the push that only the leader and founder of the movement can give—the one that most Mexicans still like and sympathize with.” The book is a “good pretext,” he adds, but the real objective was to tell Mexicans “they must be united and support President Sheinbaum.”
During his video, López Obrador was unequivocal in his support for Sheinbaum, calling her an “extraordinary friend, exceptional woman, and the best president in the world.” He repeated his call for unity and support for the current president several times, underscoring the importance of solidarity at a moment when the administration is under pressure from multiple fronts.
Yet, AMLO was also clear about the conditions under which he would consider stepping out of retirement. He listed three reasons that would compel him to return to public life: an attack on democracy, an attempt to destabilize or overthrow President Sheinbaum, or a threat to Mexico’s sovereignty. He stated, “I would only go out into the streets for three reasons,” making it clear that while he intends to dedicate himself to writing, he remains vigilant and ready to defend the political project he led from 2018 to 2024.
This carefully worded warning was not lost on Mexico’s political class. According to Milenio, López Obrador’s message served as both a show of support for Sheinbaum and a pointed caution to political opponents like Ricardo Salinas Pliego, who has already expressed intentions to run for the presidency in 2030. AMLO’s declaration that he would not allow certain “red lines” to be crossed was interpreted by many as a signal that, while retired, he remains a powerful force in Mexican politics—one who could mobilize his considerable following if he perceives a threat to his legacy or allies.
President Sheinbaum, for her part, responded by emphasizing the significance of Grandeza as a reflection of the ideals that have guided Mexico’s Fourth Transformation. She acknowledged that while she and López Obrador have not had recent personal meetings, she stays in touch with his close collaborators, particularly through his wife, Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller. Sheinbaum reaffirmed AMLO’s “crucial role for Mexico” during his presidency and described the book as one that “strengthens the current government’s political movement and the spirit of Mexican humanism, which she considers fundamental for national progress,” according to El Universal.
Sheinbaum also publicly expressed her support for López Obrador following his social media post, highlighting his enduring commitment to democracy and the ongoing need to support her presidency amid possible political challenges. This mutual reinforcement between former and current leaders of Morena comes at a time when the party faces internal dissent, as evidenced by the recent expulsion of Hernán Bermúdez for “obvious reasons,” and external threats from ambitious opposition figures.
Observers have noted the symbolic weight of AMLO’s intervention. As Rivera Pacheco put it, “Every politician by vocation, when they insist most that they are retired, is when they most want to remain present and subtly establish a ‘symbolic Maximato.’” The reference harks back to the era of Plutarco Elías Calles, who continued to wield influence in Mexican politics after officially leaving office. Whether López Obrador intends to play a similar role remains to be seen, but his message has undeniably injected “a good dose of pre-electoral oxygen” into the Sheinbaum administration and the Morena party.
As the country heads toward crucial gubernatorial and federal elections, the question of AMLO’s future involvement looms large. Will he remain content as a writer and elder statesman, or will circumstances—interpreted by him as threats to democracy, sovereignty, or the presidency—draw him back into the fray? For now, Mexicans are left to interpret his words and actions, knowing that the former president’s influence remains a decisive factor in the nation’s political calculus.
With the publication of Grandeza and his renewed presence in public discourse, López Obrador has made it clear that, while officially retired, he stands ready to defend the movement he founded—and that his legacy is inextricably linked to the fortunes of Claudia Sheinbaum and the future of the Fourth Transformation.
