Ituriel Moctezuma, a 40-year-old man who claims to be a descendant of the last Aztec emperor, Moctezuma Xocoyotzin, has announced his intention to run for the presidency of Mexico in the 2024 elections. He is the leader of the Pacto por Anáhuac, a movement that seeks to restore the ancestral values and traditions of the indigenous peoples of Mexico.
Moctezuma says he is the heir of Teresa Francisca, the daughter of the first wife of Moctezuma Xocoyotzin, who died during childbirth. Teresa Francisca was one of the few survivors of the Spanish conquest and the Tlaxcalan alliance, according to the Archivo General de la Nación.
Moctezuma received the “staff of command” from a hundred indigenous leaders in a ceremony of incense and copal, drums and shells, prayers and dances in San Juan Teotihuacán, 15 days ago. He said he accepted the task of representing the Pacto por Anáhuac, which he hopes to turn into a political party.
Among his proposals are the inclusion of the indigenous legal system in the Constitution, the right to bear arms, the legalization of marijuana, the recognition of the municipalities as a fourth power, and the ability of the people to form their own security guards.
He also advocates for the establishment of a “calpucracy”, a system of government based on the calpulli, a land extension formed by a group of families. He explains that in this system, each family elects a representative, and then each representative of the family chooses the leader of the block, and the group of those elected leaders of the block chooses the one of the neighborhood, and the representatives of the neighborhoods finally choose the municipal president.
He says that this would be a “totally citizen” election, without the need for political parties, and supervised by the INE (National Electoral Institute).
Moctezuma is not the only descendant of the Aztec emperor who has shown interest in politics. His cousin, Federico Acosta, who lives in Spain, has also expressed his support for the Pacto por Anáhuac. Another cousin, Ascanio Pignatelli, who lives in Italy, has been involved in cultural and social projects in Mexico.
Moctezuma faces many challenges to achieve his goal of becoming president. He needs to gather at least 233,000 signatures to register his party, and then compete with the established parties and candidates. He also needs to convince the Mexican people of his legitimacy and his vision for the country.
However, he says he is confident that he can count on the support of the indigenous communities and the people who are tired of the corruption and violence that plague Mexico. He says he wants to honor the legacy of his ancestor, who was the ruler of the largest empire in North America, and who faced the Spanish invaders in 1519. He says he wants to bring a new era of peace and prosperity for Mexico.
Source: Milenio
