Morena’s Quintana Roo Candidate Race Heats Up

Quintana Roo, Mexico — On December 24, just hours before Christmas, several prominent Quintana Roo political figures held a significant meeting at a hacienda near Valladolid, Yucatán.

Three officials aspiring to succeed Governor Mara Lezama shared breakfast there with a figure close to former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Estefania Mercado, Atenea Gómez Ricalde, and Rafael Marín Mollinedo broke bread at the majestic hacienda, exchanging views on the candidate for the Fourth Transformation (4T) movement for the governorship, which will be renewed next year.

The agreements reached remain unknown, but it is evident that this meeting did not have the approval of Governor Mara Lezama Espinoza.

The informal gathering followed a series of polls conducted by the Presidency of the Republic, in which Senator Eugenio (Gino) Segura Vázquez leads in Quintana Roo electoral preferences. Among those polled, Cancún Mayor Ana Patricia Peralta de la Peña follows the legislator very closely.

Next in line is the director of the National Customs Agency, Rafael Marín Mollinedo, with Playa del Carmen Municipal President Estefania Mercado positioned in fourth place.

Movements and alliances are beginning to form among aspirants with genuine chances of reaching the top prize. It is known that before the end of June, Morena will announce the name of its standard-bearer, as anticipated by the state leader of that political institute, Johana Acosta Conrado.

However, signals mixed with heavy doses of rumor have insisted in recent days on the possibility of excluding Quintana Roo Senator Eugenio Segura Vázquez from the race, primarily due to his closeness to Jorge Emilio González Torres. This is not viewed favorably at the National Palace, given the corruption background of the true power behind the PVEM (Ecologist Green Party of Mexico), who pulls the strings in at least three municipalities of Quintana Roo.

Recently, personnel from the Presidency of the Republic conducted an internal investigation monitoring the personal fortunes of those with real possibilities of attaining the coveted candidacy. Informed sources say President Claudia Sheinbaum does not want unpleasant surprises in these times of foreign scrutiny, where the United States reviews and probes everywhere.

Therefore, surveillance has increased regarding the financial movements of those who genuinely have real possibilities of reaching the candidacy.

Another important point generated from the country’s capital is the diminished possibilities of Rafael Marín Mollinedo, by presidential mandate. President Sheinbaum does not want him to leave the position he holds in her cabinet, given the monetary results he has delivered to the country’s finances.

Due to this decision, the prospects of both Ana Paty Peralta de la Peña and Estefania Mercado would rise, growing like foam, especially for the mayor of the country’s most important tourist municipality, given the closeness and friendship her husband has with Andrés Manuel López Beltrán, secretary of organization of the Morena National Executive Committee.

Those in the know say that on the 20th of this month, the direction of the President’s decisions and the will of the governor, who has remained on the sidelines of these tugs-of-war, could become clearer, even though it is known that her preferences lie with Senator Segura Vázquez, who, as the polls indicate, is the frontrunner in the preferences of Quintana Roo residents.

Postscript One

What if the surprising and belated appearance of Rafael Marín Mollinedo in the coveted main race was a cunning plan? Do you believe he was sent to eliminate someone who felt they had the candidacy in the bag? We shall see…

What is a fact is that negotiations have escalated, and it seems that in this final stretch, we can still expect several unexpected surprises.

Postscript Two

The Governor says that Morena is more united than ever and that it is still not the time to think about the candidacy to succeed her. Could it be?

Postscript Three

Those who know say that “El Niño Verde” apparently charges 20 million pesos monthly in Playa del Carmen. The concept or services he provides to Mayor Estefania Mercado are unknown. These are rumors circulating in the center of the country and surrounding areas. Could it be?