AMLO interview with La Jornada: It doesn't get clearer than this

La Jornada has an interview with Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) in today's newspaper, and I strongly recommend it to be read in its entirety, as it outlines in crystal clear terms AMLO's conception of politics and of how to bring about change in Mexico.

An excerpt, roughly translated:

"We believe that the key is the transformation of the country. That it makes no sense to maintain the status quo. I argue that politics is about making history, and in a country like ours it is crucial to strive for true change. The reality is that Mexico is in the hands of a few, a mafia of power responsible for the current national tragedy; that there is, strictly speaking, no democracy, and that as long as one maintains this regime of  domination will be no possibilities for the vast majority of Mexicans. There will be no justice, welfare, peace and tranquility for the country."

LJ: But the PRD leadership emphasizes that one has gained political space?

"The leaders of the 'left,' and I will put it in quotation marks, be it councilors, mayors, governors, legislators, they accommodate and for them it is a way of live. So as not to be too inconsiderate: It is also a political conception; they think that they can gradually improve the situation of the country."

"They assume the role of parliamentarians, present points of agreement, participate in commissions. They travel abroad and attend all the forums, although this implies yielding to the 30 mobsters who have seized all powers, who control the television and almost all media. And the PRI and PAN are using them according to what suits them."

Gradual improvement, reforming and proposing laws, searching for compromise with other parties - AMLO may reject it, but for any government on the planet worthy of being called a democracy, this is what the political process is all about.