Mexico stifles a MAGA ally at the worst possible time

Censorship is not only counterproductive, it justifies the fears surrounding the Mexican government.

Largo Aliento is a political interview show on Mexican public television in which the analyst Sabina Berman grills politicians and prominent citizens from across the political spectrum. Berman herself is a feminist of the left, so an interview with Eduardo Verástegui—the leader of an ultra-Catholic, nationalist political movement—promised, at the very least, some lively debate.

The channel aired a few trailers of the programme showing the two going at each other over women’s rights and abortion. And then, without explanation, the interview was not aired. After much online clamour the channel’s audience advocacy agency published a brief document claiming the show contained “violations of the audience’s rights for promoting political notions that go against the fundamental rights of women and vulnerable people.” No more was said.

“It is a shame. And it will bring with it negative consequences for public TV,” Sabina Berman told The Mexico Political Economist. Its consequences could well spill over beyond television and into global politics at a time of particular strife. The reason: Eduardo Verástegui, apart from being a Mexican political figure, is a close ally and advisor to Donald Trump’s MAGA movement.

For more on Eduardo Verástegui, his movement, links to MAGA, and Mexico’s old and new political right, take a look at La derecha no existe (pero ahí está) by The Mexico Political Economist’s Alex González Ormerod. Available now in Mexico in bookshops and online, and abroad via Amazon.