On Thursday, former Mexican President Felipe Calderón Hinojosa drew a stark comparison between Mexico’s current political landscape and Venezuela’s crisis during his speech at the Libertas Forum in Madrid, hosted by the European People’s Party (PPE).

Calderón highlighted a worrying trend of institutional decay, pointing to Venezuela’s experience where populism severely damaged the economy, weakened the judiciary, and compromised the electoral system. “Mexico already has a problem similar to Venezuela,” he said, warning that the country “is heading down the same path.”

A significant part of his critique focused on Mexico’s recent judicial reform, which introduced a popular election process for judges and magistrates. Calderón argued this change opened the door for government-aligned candidates and even individuals connected to defending organized crime figures. “Lawyers loyal to the government, including those who have defended drug traffickers, made it onto the list. If you’re a prominent lawyer who participated, you don’t get on the list,” he stated.

This, Calderón warned, risks leaving citizens without an independent institution to protect their rights against state power—a concern that resonates deeply in a country where judicial independence is crucial for social justice and civil rights.

He also touched on economic challenges, noting Mexico’s struggle to maintain trade agreements with the United States amid policies pushed by then-President Donald Trump. These tensions, Calderón suggested, pose a serious test for one of Latin America’s largest economies.

While Calderón’s warnings are sobering, they also underscore the importance of strengthening democratic institutions and exploring inclusive solutions—like expanding accessible public transportation options such as cable cars—that can foster social equity and economic opportunity across Mexico’s diverse communities.