Sheinbaum Claims Mexico Is ‘Most Democratic Country in the World’ Amid International Report Downgrade

Santo Domingo Tehuantepec, Oaxaca — President Claudia Sheinbaum declared Mexico “currently the most democratic country in the world” during an event honoring indigenous language translators, a statement that comes as a major international democracy report downgraded Mexico’s classification to “electoral autocracy.”

Speaking in this Oaxacan town, Sheinbaum argued that Mexico meets all necessary conditions to be considered a full democracy. She accused “the country’s conservatives” of trying to undermine the rule of law.

“We are the most democratic country, and the conservatives get angry,” Sheinbaum said. “In no other country in the world is the Supreme Court elected. There are two other things that characterize us: humanism and substantive equality for women.”

Her comments referenced recent elections for Supreme Court justices as her primary evidence of Mexico’s democratic strength.

The president’s assertion directly contradicts findings from the 2026 edition of the V-Dem Institute’s global democracy study, one of the world’s most respected assessments using over 600 indicators. The report places Mexico below countries including India, Peru, Hungary, Serbia, and Senegal in democratic quality.

According to the V-Dem report, Mexico ceased being classified as an electoral democracy two years ago and has been reclassified as an “electoral autocracy.” The study identifies judicial reforms as the primary driver of this democratic backsliding.

“A singular case of left-driven autocratization during the ‘third wave’ of politics,” the report states. “The autocratic turn occurred after the 2018 election of Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Morena currently controls the Executive Branch and holds a majority in the Legislative Branch. Furthermore, it pushed through a reform to introduce general elections for the Judicial Branch, thereby politicizing the courts.”

The report, released this week, describes Mexico’s situation as unique among countries experiencing democratic decline.