Sheinbaum responds to Alessandra Rojo de la Vega's call for a march; highlights Margarita Zavala as the demonstration's inspiration
Mexico City, August 10 — A heated political dispute has erupted between Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the President of Mexico City, and Alessandra Rojo de la Vega, the mayor of Cuauhtémoc. The conflict began over the removal of statues of Fidel Castro and Ernesto "Che" Guevara from a public park in Mexico City, but has since expanded to include a march led by Rojo de la Vega against an alleged authoritarian advance.
Rojo de la Vega called for a march of "The Resistance" on August 31 in Mexico City. The march is scheduled to take place at the National Palace on Monday, August 11. The President, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, has questioned who is calling for the August 31 march.
On the other hand, Sheinbaum Pardo has expressed support for the reinstatement of the statues elsewhere, emphasizing their significance as part of a "historical moment" tied to Mexico's shared history with Cuba and Latin American political movements. Sheinbaum also reaffirmed her government's stance on maintaining strong diplomatic ties with Cuba.
In contrast, Rojo de la Vega defended the removal decision citing respect for human rights and the wishes of local community residents, despite facing significant controversy and backlash. She even proposed auctioning the statues and stated that those who venerate the figures should buy them with their own money.
The disagreement escalated further when Sheinbaum publicly condemned Rojo de la Vega's position as unlawful, intolerant, and hypocritical, pointing to Rojo de la Vega's own past vacations in Cuba, which added a personal dimension to the political conflict.
Meanwhile, Sheinbaum Pardo also reacted to a march led by Margarita Zavala over the weekend, which was about cancer medications. Sheinbaum Pardo follows the arrival of medicines to health centers personally.
The political tension between the two leaders has provoked heated debate across social media and the Mexican political landscape, highlighting contrasting views on Cuba's legacy and Mexico City's relationship with Cuban political history.
The political tension between Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo and Alessandra Rojo de la Vega, rooted in policy-and-legislation concerning culture, has sparked heated debate on social media and the political landscape, as each leader presents differing views on the significance of the removed statues of Fidel Castro and Ernesto "Che" Guevara in general-news discussions. Sheinbaum Pardo emphasizes their importance as part of a historical moment tied to Mexico's shared history with Cuba, while Rojo de la Vega defends the removal citing respect for human rights and local community wishes.
