“Mexico’s Sheinbaum Makes History as First Woman President” By Reuters

By David Alire Garcia

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – On Tuesday, Claudia Sheinbaum will officially take her oath of office, becoming the first female president of Mexico, and she will introduce a new government logo that reflects the aspirations of young girls.

In a social media post prior to her inauguration, Sheinbaum shared the new logo featuring a young woman in profile proudly holding a Mexican flag, her ponytail reminiscent of the president-elect’s own hairstyle.

Sheinbaum’s achievement is particularly significant in a country like Mexico, which has typically seen a series of 65 male leaders since gaining independence from Spain two centuries ago. As the former mayor of Mexico City, Sheinbaum has enjoyed the support of outgoing leftist President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who has been her ally for nearly 25 years.

However, stepping out from under López Obrador’s influence, Sheinbaum is expected to confront skepticism and opposition, particularly in light of the recent reforms enacted by the outgoing president. These reforms include a significant judicial overhaul designed to replace all judges in the country within three years through a popular vote.

Former President Ernesto Zedillo expressed concerns in a guest essay, stating that the nation’s democratic system could be effectively transformed into a one-party autocracy due to the ruling Morena party’s significant power. This judicial overhaul will be among the first challenges Sheinbaum will face, as well as a growing budget deficit that may impact welfare spending and crime-fighting initiatives, especially with modest economic growth predicted.

At 62, Sheinbaum has promised to maintain continuity in her policies. She will need to carefully navigate López Obrador’s state-centric approach, particularly regarding natural resources while addressing critical issues like environmental concerns and security, which have drawn criticism.

Her presidency is also historic as she becomes the first leader of Jewish heritage in a predominantly Roman Catholic nation.

Sheinbaum’s journey to the presidency has been remarkable, rising from the daughter of activist academics to being the head of state. Her political career began in 2000 when López Obrador appointed her as the environmental chief to enhance the capital’s air quality and public transport. She later served as spokesperson for his initial presidential campaign in 2006.

In 2015, she was elected to lead Tlalpan, one of Mexico City’s largest boroughs, and became the capital’s mayor three years later—just as López Obrador won the presidency by a landslide.

Having secured over 19 million votes in last June’s elections, Sheinbaum surpassed her mentor’s record-setting victory margin, defeating her closest rival, another woman, by a significant margin.