"No proposals, full of hate": Sheinbaum's strategy against the opposition

In the face of criticism of her ambitious infrastructure plan, President Claudia Sheinbaum has launched a harsh discursive counteroffensive, calling the opposition "frustrated," "without a project," and "full of hate." This approach turns megaprojects into a political weapon to delegitimize her adversaries.

The multi-billion-dollar 2025-2030 National Infrastructure Plan is not just a construction project; it has become the epicenter of a calculated political communication strategy by President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration. The official narrative seeks, on the one hand, to position these projects as the ultimate symbol of progress and, on the other, to use any criticism as ammunition to discredit and corner the opposition.

The plan's presentation has been laced with aspirational language that seeks to connect concrete and steel with ideals of social justice. "We are building connectivity, not just roads. This infrastructure unites communities, strengthens the regional economy, and allows us to move toward more equitable mobility," Sheinbaum said during a recent press conference.

The government frames the program not only as a continuation of the previous administration's projects, but as an evolution with a deeper social focus, highlighting initiatives such as the "Artisanal Roads" for Indigenous communities and the "Bachetón" program for the toll-free road network. This narrative presents the government as the sole builder of the country's future.

When questioned about opposition criticisms regarding the plan's feasibility, cost, or priorities, the president's response is consistently dismissive and focuses on her opponents' alleged lack of alternatives.

"I'm already laughing about the opposition. […] There isn't a single proposal for infrastructure projects, projects, or ideas. That's why they're the way they are, because they truly don't represent an alternative for our country." – President Claudia Sheinbaum.

In another statement, a spokesperson for the ruling party reinforced this line: "The opposition is very frustrated; it's… the people of Mexico are paying less and less attention to them. […] They have no project or anything to offer the people."

This tactic is a classic political maneuver: instead of debating the substance of the criticisms (such as security risks or social conflicts), the critics' credibility and vision are attacked. The message is clear: if you're not with the plan, you're against progress.

The ruling party's rhetoric has escalated to highly polarized levels. President Sheinbaum has gone so far as to compare opposition figures seeking observation or intervention from international organizations to historical traitors to Mexico.

"What do you call someone who calls for another country's intervention? A traitor to the country. They're like Miramón in the 19th century, seeking an emperor to come and rule Mexico," he declared at a press conference.

He has also described his opponents' rhetoric, particularly on social media, as a reflection of their desperation, claiming they are "full of hate, full of anger" and operating in a "very small circle of hate."

This language does not seek debate, but rather total delegitimization, portraying opponents not as political adversaries with differing points of view, but as enemies of the nation.

The Infrastructure Plan has thus become a double-edged political sword. On the one hand, it is presented as irrefutable proof of the government's progress and vision. On the other, any questioning of it becomes supposed proof of the opposition's lack of patriotism, lack of ideas, and resentment. This creates an effective political trap: opposing a highway or a train is framed as opposing Mexico's future. It is a strategy designed to consolidate its base, marginalize dissent, and justify massive spending, regardless of the projects' real merits or risks. The real story is not about the construction of public works, but about how a public works project has become a test of loyalty to those in power.