Marcelo Ebrard Casaubón – Polish and Populism in Presidential Run

Following in the footsteps of a leftist icon, like the fiery former mayor of the capital, is no easy task. But Marcelo Ebrard Casaubón, the French-educated mayor of Mexico City, is determined to step out of the shadow. 

To prepare for his own bid for the presidency in 2012, Ebrard has capitalized on the support of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the former mayor of the mega-metropolis who nearly won the hotly contested 2006 presidential race and could be Ebrard’s backer in 2012 – or his rival if López Obrador attempts another run.

The 49-year-old Ebrard is not shy about his ambitions for the top office.

“In Mexico, there’s a tradition of politicians saying they don’t want that, because it’s a way of protecting yourself,” Ebrard said in a recent interview. “But if I hadn’t wanted it, I wouldn’t be here.”

Ebrard, initially a member of the once-ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, studied international relations at the Colegio de México and public administration at France’s National School of Administration. He joined the leftist Party of the Democratic Revolution in 2004. Before his Mexico City win, he served as the capital’s police commissioner and was also elected in 1996 to the lower house of Congress.

His strategy is a blend of progressive policies and populist theater.

In his two and a half years as mayor, Ebrard has signed into law measures that authorized the country’s first same-sex unions and legalized abortion in the capital. He has also embarked on an ambitious “Green Plan,” that seeks to transform this smog-choked home to 18 million people into the greenest city in Latin America within 15 years. The plan lists hundreds of environmental goals, ranging from swapping out 14,000 mini-buses and taxis for cleaner models to slashing greenhouse gas emissions and establishing 300 miles of bike lanes.

Observers describe the mayor as a cross between Al Gore and Hillary Clinton – part wonkish environmentalist and part shrewd political operator.

The mayor, who is married to soap opera star Mariagna Prats, is not above pandering to the masses.

On many weekends, Ebrard hosts mass quinceañera parties – the coming-of-age celebrations for teenage girls – in the capital’s giant central plaza, known as the Zócalo. He has also spent millions of dollars to create “beaches” in city parks during the summer and to set up an ice skating rink at Christmas.

“He is motivated overwhelmingly by politics,” said George Grayson, a Mexico expert at the College of William & Mary, in Virginia. “Before he hugged a tree, he would want to make sure that tree was going to vote for him in the next election.”

Others view the mayor’s political savvy more positively. And he scores high approval ratings, often higher than 60 percent. In one March poll, a majority of capital residents said he was doing a better job than President Felipe Calderón.

“He dares to do things, regardless of the consequences,” said Guadalupe Loaeza, a columnist for Reforma newspaper. “Everything he promises, he does.” — Marion Lloyd