This editorial by Antonio Gershenson with assistance from Ruxi Mendieta originally appeared in the December 28, 2025 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper. The views expressed in this article are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of Mexico Solidarity Media*, or the* Mexico Solidarity Project*.*
Over the past seven years, we’ve seen changes in various sectors of our economy and beyond. We have improvements to the transportation system, new trains, hospitals, universities, roads, and highways. And we could go on listing everything that’s been built from the previous administration to the current one. And, of course, these are advances that right-wing groups refuse to acknowledge.
It’s worth noting that, during both the previous and current progressive administrations, the recovery of our natural resources has been evident. It’s also important to mention that social resources have been recovered and are now contributing to the Transformation project.
Both natural and social resources have been abundant in the country, but were irresponsibly wasted and overexploited during previous administrations, especially during the neoliberal ones.
And it’s not about constantly resorting to the past to compare –deceptively– the system of government we suffered for 36 years, and which we are now recovering from thanks to the collective efforts of both the government and society itself.
If gasoline prices were the same as in Venezuela, life would become more efficient, fares for all forms of transportation would decrease, and wealth would be distributed more quickly and equitably.
We are a society deeply wounded in every sense, hence the importance of continuing to recover, without compromise, not only economic resources but also social ones. Overcoming backwardness is no easy task, and even less so if we lack the support of a significant sector of the population that continues to believe they are the most important and privileged part of our society. We are talking about the so-called national right wing, which, incidentally, is so similar to other right-wing movements in the Americas that they seem like kindred spirits.
Whether they acknowledge it or not, we have begun a new phase in the reconstruction of the country. Of course, it would be more visible, credible, and truly inspiring if the prices of food and other goods were to decrease so that wage increases could have the necessary positive effect. We want and need to escape, once and for all, the other poverty—the cultural, educational, and political kind. We continue our pursuit of a dignified life.
If gasoline prices were the same as in Venezuela, life would become more efficient, fares for all forms of transportation would decrease, and wealth would be distributed more quickly and equitably. Consequently, people could travel more safely and achieve their life goals and objectives in a shorter period and with less physical and mental strain. Furthermore, the economic gap would narrow, as the population as a whole would benefit, regardless of their individual ideologies.
Incidentally, a liter of Venezuelan gasoline costs less than one Mexican peso. Its current price is around 0.72 to 0.84 Mexican pesos, at least until early 2025. The abundance of hydrocarbons allows the Bolivarian government to maintain the Sistema Patria program, in which coupons for subsidized gasoline are distributed nationwide. It is among the cheapest in the world, since a liter, in national currency, costs around 0.84 bolivars and approximately 0.035 dollars.
If the US-backed, 17th-century buccaneer-style raids continue, it will surely affect the price of a barrel of oil. However, Venezuelan gasoline will remain among the cheapest in the world.
Photo: Jay Watts
We believe that if Pemex continues its reorganization and staff reform, it could already be in a position to design a gasoline subsidy program. We urgently need this before the importance and significance of minimum wage increases diminish. If such a subsidy were possible, we could be certain that our salaries would cover all our needs, and we wouldn’t have to live practically hand to mouth, as is currently the case in the United States. Who would have thought it, but that’s capitalism, especially when a country like the United States is slowly being suffocated by debt. The people of that nation are living through one of the worst chapters in their history thanks to the terrible government they have.
Ever since Andrés Manuel López Obrador, along with his team, decided to seize the country’s natural resources, we knew that the struggles between social classes would worsen. The population that supported neoliberalism experienced a psychological, ideological, and economic shock with the proposal for national regeneration. Conflicts of interest, corruption in strategic sectors like energy, structural mafias, and acts of treason were exposed. Because selling off the country’s natural and social resources is, without a doubt, a crime, a clear betrayal of the nation.
However, after more than 14 years of attacks and destructive criticism from the right-wing PRI, PAN, and others, the national project and the progressive governments of Morena are advancing, step by step. The second phase of the Fourth Transformation (4T) is still standing and moving forward. The Transformation is consolidating. There is still much to be done; no one said otherwise.
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