Claudia Sheinbaum elects as Mexico’s first woman president in an historic landslide win. Before running for president, Ms Sheinbaum was mayor of Mexico City, one of the most influential political positions in the country. She will take Office in October if she manages to win the last phase of the elections as well.
In a historic moment for Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum has been elected as the country’s first female president. Preliminary results show that Sheinbaum, a climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City, won the largest election in Mexico’s history with 58.3% to 60.7% of the vote.
Sheinbaum, 61, follows in the footsteps of her political mentor, outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Sheinbaum, a member of the Morena party, emphasized unity in her victory speech. She promises to govern for all Mexicans and to continue building a fair and prosperous nation.
Speaking to a packed crowd in Mexico City’s main square, the Zócalo, Sheinbaum highlighted the significance of her win. “For the first time in 200 years, I will become the first woman president of Mexico,” she said.
Opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez, supported by a coalition of three parties, came in second with 26.6% to 28.6% of the vote. The Citizens’ Movement candidate, Jorge Álvarez Máynez, placed third.
Outgoing President López Obrador congratulated Sheinbaum, praising her for achieving what could be the highest vote count in Mexico’s history. He noted that her victory is a landmark for gender equality in the country.
Need For Mexico’s Future
Mexico has made significant strides in gender equality in politics. Yet it remains a dangerous place for women, with high rates of femicide. Sheinbaum’s presidency comes with the hope of addressing these issues while continuing the social programs initiated by López Obrador, such as pensions for seniors, scholarships for students, and support for small farmers.
Sheinbaum’s tenure as mayor of Mexico City saw improvements in police conditions and intelligence. She may draw upon it to tackle the country’s widespread violence and crime. A major challenge will be reducing the high impunity rate, with 95% of crimes going unsolved in 2022.
The final election results will be confirmed by September 6, and if validated, Sheinbaum will take office on October 1, serving a six-year term until 2030.
