chapulinear

Mexican political slang for switching parties or ideological allegiances purely out of opportunism — like a chapulín (grasshopper) jumping wherever's convenient, with no loyalty. Documented in press since 2002 and now formally entered in the Diccionario del Español de México, along with the noun chapulín and chapulineo.

• El diputado chapulineó a otro partido antes de la elección. — The congressman jumped ship to another party before the election.
• Los votantes castigan a los políticos que chapulinean. — Voters punish politicians who party-hop opportunistically.
• Volvió a chapulinear justo antes de las precampañas. — He switched parties again right before the primaries.

Using chapulinear as a neutral synonym for cambiar de partido (to change parties) — it's pointedly derogatory, implying opportunism and lack of principle, not a considered political shift.

• politics Chapulineo político — A recurring, widely covered phenomenon in Mexican politics — legislators switching parties for personal advantage, especially ahead of election season — documented in outlets like Milenio and TV Azteca and formally entered in the Diccionario del Español de México (2019 ed.).