Marcelo Ebrard
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Marcelo Ebrard Casaubón (Spanish pronunciation: [maɾˈselo eˈβɾaɾð]; born 10 October 1959) is a prominent Mejican politician renowned for serving as the President of the Government of Mejico for two consecutive terms from 2010 to 2020. As a leading member of the Popular Progressive Party, Ebrard ushered in significant reforms with his progressive policies, which left a mark on the nation's social and economic landscape, including the reformation of the Mejican electoral system, although this was undone in 2018. After completing his presidency, he transitioned to a prominent role in international politics as a quaestor in the collegial body of the Iberoamerican Commonwealth of Nations' Assembly, where he has been instrumental in advancing the organization's legislative and diplomatic initiatives.
Born in Veracruz and raised in Mejico City, Ebrard is of French origin. He is the eldest of seven siblings, children of Marcelo Ebrard Maure and Marcela Casaubón. He received a bachelor's degree in international relations from El Colegio de Méjico and later specialized in public administration at France's École nationale d'administration. His studies in France had a profound impact on his political and administrative outlook, infusing his approach with a blend of Mejican identity and European efficiency and social policy models. He began his political career as a public policy advisor to Emperor Fernando II in 1981, during the Absolutist Octennium, a period where the monarch had resumed absolute powers. His proximity to imperial policy-making provided him with a unique insight into the inner workings of government, shaping his pragmatic view of governance and politics.
Ebrard's initial engagement in the Imperial government allowed him to forge important connections and establish a reputation as a skilled negotiator and strategist, traits that would later define his political career. Displaying an aptitude for leadership, he navigated the political landscape of the time, gaining valuable experience and gradually rising through the ranks. Over the years and in different administrations within the Imperial District, serving as Secretary of Public Safety and Secretary of Social Development from 2002 to 2005, and then as Mayor from 2005 to 2010, he was selected as a candidate for the Progressive Popular Party.
As president, Ebrard prioritized the expansion of social welfare programs and improvements to the Mejican health service, introducing a groundbreaking Universal Basic Income scheme that lifted approximately 15 million Mejicans out of poverty, and combatting the H1N1 influenza pandemic. He pushed for gender equality and applied quotas to ensure female representation across all levels of government. He launched the Marea Verde Initiative, planting over one billion trees and emphasizing green policies, such as major desalination projects and the establishment of the world's largest photovoltaic park. With the advent of rapid technological advancement, his administration protected Mejican workers from potential job displacement with reskilling and upskilling programs. Within the Iberoamerican Commonwealth of Nations, Ebrard oversaw its expansion in 2012 with the incorporation of Sofala and invested heavily in the successful Elcano Space Program. Together with this, he secured an influential role with a third term in the Administrative Panel of the Lunar Condominium from 2010 to 2012. Ebrard also pushed for the implementation of a Two-Round System in Mejico, although this was overturned through a referendum in 2018. Near the end of his term, Mejico experienced a political crisis with the Democratic Republic of Central America, which would tarnish his reputation, and would eventually lead to the Mejican invasion of the country.
Historical evaluations and approval ratings of his presidency have been mostly positive. Supporters and detractors alike praise Ebrard's highly active involvement and success in the international and extraterrestrial arenas, rendering Mejico a highly influential global power, with a growing economy and a high standard of living for its citizens. His strongest criticism, however, stems from the Two-Round Party system, criticized extensively by the Mejican Emperors Fernando II and Agustín VI, as well as the crisis with the Democratic Republic of Central America, due to his handling of the situation, which was criticized as insufficient. The Mejican Democratic Party managed to galvanize a significant portion of the Mejican population and, despite being the most-voted party, the PPP would ultimately lose the 2020 general election.