Morena Forum in Cancún Shifts to Early Campaigning for Rafael Marín, Sparking Political Tensions

Cancún, Quintana Roo — A political forum organized by the ruling Morena party in Cancún, initially billed as a discussion on electoral reform, quickly transformed into an early campaign event for Rafael Marín Mollinedo, exposing internal party tensions and creating political friction during a presidential visit.

The conference, led by Alfonso Ramírez Cuéllar, Morena’s deputy coordinator in the Chamber of Deputies, and attended by local deputy Gabriela Mora, took place Friday afternoon at the Wyndham hotel. Attendance fell short of expectations, with fewer than 80 people present, far from a representative or impactful political gathering.

While the stated goal was to explain President Claudia Sheinbaum’s “Plan B” electoral reform initiative, the event swiftly became a platform to promote Marín Mollinedo, who is seeking Morena’s nomination for the Quintana Roo governorship in 2027. The session was framed around “Building Quintana Roo: Proposals for the 2027–2033 Government Program.”

The shift did not go unnoticed. Instead of focusing on reform details, the discourse and atmosphere favored promoting the current head of Customs, encouraged by a group of Morena “pioneers” who have begun advocating for him in the state, despite his previous avoidance of large public events.

The low turnout also highlighted the limited mobilizing capacity of Marín Mollinedo’s supporters, whose efforts have concentrated on low-profile activities that nonetheless aim to position him ahead of the electoral process, bordering on premature campaigning.

Beyond attendance numbers, the political implications are more significant. The event occurred while President Sheinbaum was conducting a working tour in Quintana Roo focused on social and governance issues, entirely separate from electoral matters.

In this context, using a party event to advance personal ambitions was viewed by various sectors as disrespectful to the presidential office and the official agenda, introducing political “noise” during an official visit.

Rather than reinforcing messages of unity or support for electoral reform, the forum exposed internal fractures and the eagerness of some actors to jump ahead in the political timeline. For Marín Mollinedo, his insistence on visibility—even before a small audience—strengthened perceptions that he is seeking to position himself at all costs, even if it strains Morena’s official narrative of discipline and order or shows disrespect to the presidency.

Thus, what was intended as an informational forum ended as an episode raising more questions than answers about political direction within the governing party in Quintana Roo.