Lemus' Double Game: National Power and Support in the Streets

At the dawn of his term, Jalisco Governor Pablo Lemus is demonstrating a remarkable ability to play on two political boards simultaneously. His recent participation in the Third Meeting of Authorities of the Three Levels of Government on Security, held in Colima, projects him as a regional leader committed to major national issues. At the same time, on the streets of Guadalajara, his administration, through key figures such as Mayor Verónica Delgadillo, has begun distributing 181,000 packages of uniforms and school supplies, a program with high social impact and widespread popular support.

This dual strategy, combining high-level politics with grassroots social action, is no coincidence. It's a deliberate move to build a government brand that is seen as strong and competent both internally and externally, a crucial tactic in a state with a historically complex relationship with the federal government.

Governor Lemus's attendance at the regional security summit, along with other leaders from the western part of the country, sends a clear message to the federal government and the rest of the states: Jalisco is a serious partner willing to collaborate in the fight against organized crime, one of Mexico's most pressing challenges.

In a national political landscape often marked by confrontation between the center and the periphery, these types of cooperative gestures are essential. Lemus seeks to position himself not as a contentious opposition governor, but as a pragmatic regional leader who understands the need for coordination to achieve results in security matters. This stance allows him to negotiate resources and federal support from a position of strength and shared responsibility.

While the image of a statesman is built in high-level forums and meetings, the loyalty and support of the citizenry are earned on the ground. The launch of the mass distribution of school supplies in Guadalajara is a perfect example of this strategy. This type of social program has a tangible and immediate benefit for thousands of families, generating a sense of gratitude and closeness to the government.

The implementation of these programs through important local political figures, such as Verónica Delgadillo, also serves to strengthen the ruling party's structures at the municipal level, creating a solid support network that extends beyond the governor.

"An effective government is one that can sit down with the President to define the country's security strategy, and the next day be in a neighborhood handing out a uniform that will take a weight off a mother's shoulders," commented a local political analyst.

This approach of "hard power" in security policy and "soft power" in social policy is taking place in a complex national context, marked by the controversial election of new judges and ministers at the federal level, a process that political figures in Jalisco, such as Senator Clemente Castañeda, have openly described as a "farce."

Pablo Lemus's ability to navigate these turbulent waters, keeping one foot in national cooperation and the other firmly planted in the local needs of Jalisco, will be key to the success of his administration. His dual strategy is a bid to demonstrate that it is possible to be a relevant player on the national stage without neglecting the foundation that brought him to power.