Pictured: Andres M. Lopez Obrador, who proposed amnesty for some participants in Mexico’s non-international armed conflict. Image from Flickr by Eneas de Troya, taken during Lopez Obrador’s campaign and used under CC 2.0 licensing terms. Would pardoning criminals put an end Mexico’s internal armed conflict? This is one of a few recently proposed scenarios to have emerged in Mexico prior to the July 2018 presidential election. The candidate who is currently polling highest, Andres M. López Obrador (also known by his initials, AMLO), said in a speech last December that he would consider granting legal amnesty to leaders of Mexico's warring drug organizations. Amnesty is defined as “forgiveness extended to certain crimes, which absolves legal responsibility of their perpetrators,” according to the dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy. The former head of government of Mexico's capital is vying for the job once more, after two previously unsuccessful runs. A leftist, populist candidate who has held roles in multiple political parties, López Obrador is sometimes compared to Venezuela’s current president, Nicolas Maduro. The Huffington Post reported on López Obrador’s “granting pardon” approach, quoting him verbatim: “We are going to look at amnesty declaration from every angle, while taking victims into account as well.” News and commentary site Animal Politico also reported on the proposal, noting that the leader of the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) party said he would do “everything one could possibly do” to bring peace to the country. In January 2018, current president Enrique Peña Nieto referred to the amnesty proposition as a “betrayal of Mexico,” in a speech largely understood to be a direct response to López Obrador. Mexico's federal government has claimed to be at war with criminals since it was openly declared by his predecessor, Felipe Calderon, in 2006. Although López Obrador and his followers have now backtracked on his statement regarding amnesty, the subject is nevertheless very much in discussion among the public. Users posted their positions on Twitter: Resulta hipocrita que el gobierno mexicano critique la propuesta de amnistia para delincuentes hecha por AMLO, cuando el estado mexicano, no solo no ha hecho nada contra la delincuencia organizada, sino que se establece como su socio principal debido al imperio de corrupción. — miguel angel aguirre (@maaguirref) 17 janvier 2018 How hypocritical of the Mexican government to criticize AMLO’s proposal of amnesty for criminals, when the Mexican state not only has done nothing against organized crime but established itself as its main partner in an empire of corruption. User Adrian Turner commented: Me pregunto si la amnistía planteada por AMLO también incluye a Peña Nieto y todos aquellos que han saqueado a México en probada y transparente fiscalización de los recursos nacionales cuya conducta produjo un detrimento a las arcas nacionales ? Así, en minúsculas — Adrian Turner (@Trismegisto333) 16 janvier 2018 I wonder if AMLO’s proposed amnesty also includes Peña Nieto and everyone else who has plundered Mexico through widely acknowledged and transparent control of national resources, whose behavior has detrimentally affected the national treasury? Non-capitalization intentional. For his part, Pedro B. expressed: El presidentito @epn se rasga la ropa por la supuesta amnistía que ofreció AMLO, pero no dice nada del 98% de impunidad en denuncias. No tiene vergüenza, ni madre. — Pedro B. (@petrinob) 16 janvier 2018 Lil’ president @epn rends his clothes at AMLO’s supposed amnesty offer, but says nothing about the 98% of cases that end in impunity. He has no shame, nor mother. Daniel Vazquez made similar pronouncements: No sé por que se espantan al escuchar el termino “amnistia” que maneja AMLO, cuando lo que se maneja en el gobierno actual es IMPUNIDAD, y eso si es bastante grave. — Daniel Vazquez (@danielvazquez91) 16 janvier 2018 I don’t know why they get scared when they hear the term “amnesty” that AMLO is pushing for, when what currently drives the government is IMPUNITY, which is quite serious. In this tweet, a user suggested that the proposal by pre-candidate López Obrador might not have been made in sincerity, but as a mockery: El peor enemigo de AMLO es el propio AMLO. Vaya lío en el que se metió por su fabulosa idea de proponer “Amnistía” a los delincuentes. Sin duda, fue una ocurrencia que le pareció muy correcta decirla. Eso pasa cuando no oyes, no escuchas, te crees ser Dios. — El Padrastro del Análisis Legal Superior (@EAMunozCuevas) 15 janvier 2018 AMLO's worst enemy is AMLO himself. What a mess he got into for his fabulous idea of ​​proposing “Amnesty” to criminals. Without a doubt, it was a jest that seemed quite fit to make.