Mexico's Morena party will determine its presidential candidacies through public opinion surveys rather than internal party opinions [1, 2].
This shift in strategy is intended to maintain party unity. By relying on objective public data, the party aims to avoid internal fractures and respond to threats of a party split [2].
The decision was finalized during a meeting of Morena's National Council in Mexico City on June 11, 2023 [2]. The party's spokesperson, Carolina Rangel, said the new direction during a media appearance [1].
"Las candidaturas se definirán mediante encuestas y no por opiniones internas," Rangel said [1].
The move signals a departure from traditional internal deliberations. The party believes that public polling provides a more transparent metric for viability than the preferences of party leadership, a change designed to neutralize internal rivalry [2].
An Associated Press correspondent reported that Morena agreed to the survey method on a Sunday to prevent the party from breaking apart [2]. The decision reflects the high stakes of the presidential selection process within the ruling party.
“"Las candidaturas se definirán mediante encuestas y no por opiniones internas."”
By outsourcing candidate selection to public opinion polls, Morena is attempting to outsource the political risk of internal conflict. This mechanism allows the party to justify its nominee through external popularity rather than internal power struggles, potentially insulating the party leadership from accusations of favoritism while ensuring the nominee has broad public appeal.
