Claudia Sheinbaum is set to make history on Tuesday as Mexico’s first female president, marking a significant milestone for a country 200 years after it gained independence.
Taking the oath of office, the 62-year-old scientist-turned-politician pledged to uphold and expand the country’s social safety net while championing the needs of poorer people in Mexico.
Sheinbaum, who secured a resounding victory in June with nearly 60 percent of votes, carries the legacy of her predecessor, Andres Manuel López Obrador, whose administration was marked by the slogan “For the good of all, first the poor.”
Marco Ugarte/AP, file
López Obrador’s commitment to moving away from the neoliberal policies of his predecessors laid the groundwork for Sheinbaum’s ascent.
She has promised to continue his social programs and reforms to the judiciary and National Guard, which were pushed through during the latter days of his presidency.
But analysts say Sheinbaum’s leadership style will differ from that of López Obrador.
Carlos Pérez Ricart, a political analyst at Mexico’s Center for Economic Research and Teaching, said “López Obrador was a tremendously charismatic president, often able to mask political missteps with his charm, a luxury that Claudia Sheinbaum may not possess. While López Obrador relied on charisma, she will need to demonstrate effectiveness.”
Ginnette Riquelme/AP, file
Sheinbaum’s inaugural presidential trip will take her to the storm-ravaged resort city of Acapulco.
Hurricane John, which recently struck as a Category 3 storm and reemerged as a tropical storm, unleashed torrential rains that resulted in at least 17 fatalities.
She will also have to confront escalating violence in the city of Culiacan, which is dominated by drug cartels and where clashes among factions of the Sinaloa cartel have intensified following the capture of high-profile drug lords Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and JoaquÃn Guzmán López in the U.S.
The situation is similar across the nation, with drug-related violence surging from Tijuana in the north to Chiapas in the south, displacing thousands in its wake.
Sheinbaum also inherits a huge budget deficit, unfinished infrastructure projects, and an escalating financial burden from her party’s social assistance programs—conditions that could destabilize financial markets.
Regarding Mexico’s relations with the U.S., a potential victory for Donald Trump in the upcoming elections could reshape U.S.-Mexico relations dramatically.
Trump has threatened to impose 100 percent tariffs on vehicles manufactured in Mexico, a move that, while likely violating the USMCA trade agreement, could have far-reaching consequences for Sheinbaum’s administration.
Relations with the U.S. have already been strained; López Obrador had previously announced a pause in diplomatic interactions with the U.S. embassy following public criticism of his proposed judicial reforms.
However, first lady Jill Biden expressed hope for future relations, recently stating that: “Under Dr. Sheinbaum’s presidency, I know we will continue to build a more prosperous, safe, and democratic region—and take significant steps in our U.S.-Mexico partnership.”
This article contains additional reporting from The Associated Press
