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Mar 2023
30m 19s

Is Mexico slipping into autocracy?

Financial Times
About this episode

Gideon talks to academic and writer Denise Dresser about President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s autocratic tendencies and why she thinks the leader she once voted for is dismantling democracy in Mexico. Clips: France 24, Andrés Manuel López Obrador 


Amlo’s strongman act is weakening Mexico

Thousands protest in Mexico against cuts to electoral watchdog

Mexico’s former security chief convicted in US of helping cartel smuggle drugs


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Presented by Gideon Rachman. Produced by Fiona Symon. Sound design is by Breen Turner


Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com



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