In the final stretch of the process to create new political parties, an ultraconservative organization from northern Mexico has surprisingly accelerated its progress and is now on the verge of meeting the legal requirements to secure a place on the ballot. It is called México tiene vida (Mexico Has Life), and it has already registered as a local party in Nuevo León.
As its name suggests, it is a pro-life party, defining itself as an organization that advocates for the restoration of the country’s dignity and the recovery of ethical and moral values. “Values are the foundation of México tiene vida’s actions, placing the family at the center and as its backbone,” the organization states in its declaration of principles.
The new party has reported to the National Electoral Institute (INE) the affiliation of more than 222,000 people and the holding of 107 district assemblies, putting it very close to meeting the legal requirements of 256,000 affiliations and 200 assemblies. Along with Somos México, Construyendo Sociedades de Paz (CSP), and Que Siga la Democracia AC, it is one of the four parties that could appear on the 2027 ballot alongside the six currently registered (Morena, PAN, PVEM, MC, PRI, and PT).
Its sudden growth surprised electoral officials and promoters of other emerging political parties, who have noted that the organization began scheduling assemblies “overnight” and registering unusual activity on the electronic application enabled by the INE (National Electoral Institute) to recruit members. According to the institute’s records, of its 222,653 members, more than 175,000 joined through the app (almost 80%), and only 47,000 registrations were collected at its assemblies. This proportion is the exact opposite of that of the other organizations seeking registration, which have achieved most of their memberships at events.
The Vida organization was founded in Monterrey in 2022 and secured its registration as a local political party in the 2024 state elections, obtaining 4.3 percent of the vote in Nuevo León. Although it did not win any mayoral or state congressional seats, the Vida Nuevo León party received the fourth-highest number of votes in the state and is now laying the groundwork for its national registration, with the support of business leaders and members of the Evangelical Church.
Its leader is Jaime Ochoa Hernández, a Monterrey businessman and founder of the tax firm ROEH, who has become the public face of a national project that claims to be guided by seven values: life, family, freedom, sustainable prosperity, justice, and the nation-state. His partners are fellow Monterrey businessmen Eduardo Zamarripa Cortés and Jorge Garza Talavera, who are listed as the organization’s legal representatives in the proceedings before the National Electoral Institute (INE).
They’re aiming for a presidential candidate in 2030
In a recent interview shared on Vida’s social media, Jaime Ochoa revealed that his ultimate goal is to field a presidential candidate in the 2030 elections. “The objective is to obtain national registration, compete in the 2027 election, and prepare for 2030, when we aspire to launch our first presidential candidate. That will truly mark the beginning of a new path for the country.”
Previously, in statements to the media outlet Enlace Judío, Jaime Ochoa expressed his Christian values based on the Bible, his belief in Jehovah, his approval of the rise of the far right worldwide, and his shared views with politicians such as Nayib Bukele of El Salvador, Javier Milei of Argentina, and Georgia Meloni of Italy. He also condemned the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel in October 2023 and expressed his support for Benjamin Netanyahu’s military response in Palestine. “We stand in solidarity with the Jewish people, for whom we constantly pray; we, as evangelicals, believe that these kinds of terrorist attacks are unacceptable,” he said in November 2024.
In its documents, México tiene Vida (Mexico Has Life) argues that the country needs honest politicians with values and ethics, and justifies its creation by citing the crisis of credibility of existing political parties. “Today we live in times where public distrust is ever-increasing. In Mexico, disappointment and distrust of the political system reign, with no hope of solving the real problems of Mexican society. Citizens are outraged with corrupt politicians and with all politicians who make promises they don’t keep,” they assert.
The organization must complete 200 district assemblies and obtain 40,000 more memberships by the end of January in order to hold its national assembly in February. The INE’s General Council will review the documentation after March, and it is expected that it will determine which organizations obtain registration by June.
The new parties will be able to participate in the 2027 midterm federal elections, with a minimum budget granted by the INE and without the possibility of allying with other parties, and will only reaffirm their registration if they obtain at least 3% of the national vote
Source: elpais
