Morena turns its back on tenants: Stops rent cap in Jalisco

In a move that has caused surprise and controversy, Miguel de la Rosa Figueroa, the coordinator of the Morena party in the Jalisco Congress, opposed a reform that sought to cap annual rent increases in the state.

In the midst of a housing crisis affecting thousands of families in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, with rents skyrocketing year after year, the Morena party in the local Congress has taken a stance that seems to run counter to its own national discourse. The decision by its coordinator, Miguel de la Rosa Figueroa, to halt an initiative to regulate rents has raised alarm bells and a key question: Who does this decision really benefit?

The legislative proposal sought to establish a cap on annual rent increases, a measure sought by tenant organizations to curb speculation and gentrification that pushes residents out of their neighborhoods. Surprisingly, it was the leader of the Morena faction who spoke out against it, effectively blocking its progress.

This stance is particularly striking because it clashes head-on with the party's national platform. At the federal level, Morena has promoted speeches and reforms aimed at guaranteeing the right to decent housing and protecting the most vulnerable populations from the abuses of the real estate market. Even Morena legislators in Jalisco, such as José María "Chema" Martínez, had previously proposed models for governments to build and rent affordable housing, in line with the party's ideology.

Coordinator De la Rosa Figueroa's refusal has not been accompanied by a clear public justification, which has opened the door to all kinds of speculation. The main hypotheses being considered in political and civic circles are:

• Pressure from the real estate sector: Guadalajara is experiencing a boom in construction and the real estate market. Has the legislator given in to the interests of large developers and property owners who oppose any type of regulation?
• Internal divisions within Morena Jalisco: This stance could reflect a fracture within the local party, where particular interests and alliances prevail over the party's ideological line at the national level.
• An unknown political strategy: Is there an undisclosed political calculation behind this decision? Some analysts do not rule out the possibility that it may be a bargaining chip to negotiate other initiatives in the future.

Regardless of the motivation, the immediate impact of this decision falls squarely on the shoulders of tenants. In a city where wages don't keep pace with rents, the lack of regulation leaves thousands of people in precarious situations, with the constant fear of not being able to pay the next month's rent or of being evicted due to an unreasonable increase.

The decision in the Jalisco Congress could be indicative of the challenges Morena faces as a ruling party: the clash between its rhetoric of social justice and pressure from local economic powers. The question remains: whether this is an isolated case or the beginning of a trend that will alienate the party from its grassroots base.