The term of office for head of the federal executive branch in Mexico lasts six years. Before reaching this position, the political class focuses on their social work: some come from being legislators or governors; others simply dedicate themselves to their party’s activism.
However, after their term ends, six years later, few people remain in public life. In fact, none of the recent presidents returned to being a deputy, senator, or holding a relevant position in their party.
In fact, the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States expressly prohibits those who hold the office of President from being re-elected.
They also cannot be president of the Senate during the first session of the year in which a six-year term begins, nor can they serve as Secretary of the Interior, as this could lead them to assume an interim presidency, that is, to once again occupy the office of federal head of state.
Therefore, the most recent public appearances of former presidents have ranged from presenting books they’ve written themselves to meeting with other diplomats from around the world. Here’s what those who have shaped the country’s destiny are doing now.
What is AMLO doing now?
Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024), the last president before Claudia Sheinbaum, retired from political life, as he announced before the end of his term.
The founder of the now-defunct PRD and Morena moved to his own ranch, named “La Chingada,” located in Palenque, Chiapas, and has been resting there, as he stated.
The last time we heard from him was recently, when he published his new book, “Grandeza” (Greatness), which, according to him, discusses the country’s natural and cultural wealth.
Despite promising not to return to political life, at the presentation of his book he also warned that he would return if it became necessary to defend democracy or President Claudia Sheinbaum in the face of an attempted coup.
“I was telling you, I would come out to defend democracy, I would also come out to defend her (Sheinbaum), if there are attempted coups. It’s in these circumstances that you should know if I might come out,” he stated.
What is Enrique Peña Nieto doing now?
The last PRI president, Enrique Peña Nieto (2012-2018), retired completely from political life and moved to another country. He recently reappeared in Madrid, Spain, on September 11 of this year as one of the participants in the 24th Annual Charity Golf Tournament against breast cancer, organized by the Clínica Menorca Foundation.
The former president moved to Spain in 2020. Since then, he has been seen occasionally at events in Madrid and other cities, despite maintaining a low profile in public life.
Two years later, in 2022, it was revealed that the Spanish government granted him residency for investment purposes, known as a golden visa, after he demonstrated the purchase of a high-value property in an exclusive area of Madrid.
What is Felipe Calderón doing now?
Felipe Calderón Hinojosa was the second politician from the National Action Party (PAN) to assume the presidency and is currently one of those most blamed for the increase in violence in Mexico.
His six-year term, from 2006 to 2012, was marked by various events, including the so-called war on drugs, and he has even been implicated as an accomplice in the crimes of Genaro García Luna, who was his Secretary of Public Security and is now facing legal proceedings in the United States.
After leaving office, Calderón attempted to remain politically active by founding the organization México Libre with his wife, Margarita Zavala, who at one point ran for president as an independent candidate.
However, when his opposition project failed to gain traction, the former president decided to leave the PAN. He even worked on environmental issues, but during an interview this year, he admitted that he misses the responsibility entrusted to him by the people.
“For the past decade or so, I’ve dedicated myself primarily to environmental and climate change issues. One of the greatest satisfactions I’ve had in my life is being president of the commission that was called the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate.”
More recently, he reappeared on the political radar to wish his former party success in the reform of its statutes, now led by Jorge Romero.
According to his biography in X, Calderón claims to be the honorary president of the Global Commission on the Economy and Climate.
He also states that he is an independent consultant and speaker, and that he provides advice on public policy, security, government, and especially sustainability.
“As an international speaker, he shares his reflections and analyses on the challenges of leadership, Mexico-United States relations, the democratic and security challenges in Latin America, the path to economic development, the global challenge of climate change, and various related phenomena and topics such as the Global Energy Transition,” details X.
What is Vicente Fox currently doing?
After his term as President (2000-2006), Vicente Fox Quezada returned to live on his ranch in San Cristóbal with his family to dedicate himself to livestock and agriculture.
The former PAN member was already known for his prolific activity as a businessman, not only in the industrial sector (where he became national director of operations for Coca-Cola), but also in the agricultural sector and the footwear industry, where he attempted to start a cowboy boot business.
Since then, Fox has been one of the few figures who remain active in political life, as he was one of the activists for the decriminalization of marijuana in the country and also joined the protest against the electoral reform.
