Pedro Kumamoto, whose groundbreaking 2015 victory as a raw 25-year-old independent candidate in a Jalisco congressional district shook up the state’s political establishment, is transitioning from political battles to an important international position.
Kumamoto has been appointed the interim Secretary General of the Inter-American Conference on Social Security (CISS), a major international forum addressing social security issues in the Americas. He will step down from his position on the Zapopan city council to assume the post on January 1, 2025, with full ratification expected later in the year.
Founded in 1942, the CISS brings together government representatives, social security institutions, academics and other experts from 35 countries to share their knowledge, experiences and best practices. The conference addresses topics such as social protection, pension systems, health coverage, and the challenges countries face in providing social security benefits to their populations.
After his term in the Jalisco Congress, Kumamoto ran twice for the mayorship of Zapopan under the banner of the newly formed party Futuro, finishing second in both elections to current Mayor Juan José Frangie, despite earning a significant number of votes.
During his second mayoral run, Kumamoto faced criticism for aligning with the Morena Party — a decision seen by some as contradicting his long-standing fight against the political establishment, which he had consistently labeled as corrupt. Kumamoto defended the move, stating that Morena’s platform was closest to his left-of-center leanings and that the realities of Mexico’s political system necessitated this choice. He also welcomed Morena’s nomination of Claudia Sheinbaum for president, predicting that her government would be both “feminist and environmentalist,” and with “an emphasis on social justice,” all key elements of his political philosophy