Leaders from across the Americas congratulated Claudia Sheinbaum, whose resounding victory in Mexico’s national elections will make her the first woman to hold the presidency in the country’s history.
Officials from countries including Brazil, Chile and the United States praised the newly appointed president-elect, who won Sunday’s elections with more than 59 percent of the vote.
Sheinbaum will represent the left-wing National Regeneration Movement (Morena) party when he takes office on October 1st.
“I congratulate Claudia Sheinbaum on her historic election as the first female president of Mexico,” US President Joe Biden said in a press release on Monday. “I look forward to working closely with President-elect Sheinbaum in the spirit of partnership and friendship that reflects the enduring ties between our two countries.”
Sheinbaum will succeed current president Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador, known by the initials AMLO, who founded the Morena party. During his campaign, Sheinbaum promised to carry out his signature policies during his six-year term.
López Obrador leaves office in September as one of the most popular world leaders currently in office.
His approval rating has consistently remained above 60 percent, with think tank Morning Consult ranking him behind only two other leaders – Narendra Modi of India and Javier Milei of Argentina – in terms of popularity.
His record in office includes advancing progressive priorities such as expanding social programs for the poor. But López Obrador has also led controversial initiatives, including expanding the military mandate and collaborating with the United States to crack down on northward migration.
Sheinbaum has a close professional relationship with López Obrador, who appointed her Secretary of the Environment when he led the government of Mexico City, starting in 2000.
Support from the Latin American left
Leaders of the political left across Latin America, with whom López Obrador maintains strong ties, expressed optimism after Sunday’s vote showed Sheinbaum a sizable victory over a conservative-leaning coalition.
“I am very happy with her victory, because she represents my great friend López Obrador, who led an extraordinary government,” Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said in comments on Monday, adding that he hopes ties economic relations between the two countries expand. advance.
The government of Chile’s President Gabriel Boric also released a statement, saying it hopes Sheinbaum’s election will contribute to a “more inclusive, fair, resilient and peaceful region.”
The Morena party’s victory with Sheinbaum is a show of strength when the left in Latin America has suffered a series of setbacks in recent years. The party is also poised to maintain and possibly expand its legislative majority.
By contrast, in countries like Colombia and Chile, left-leaning presidents have seen their popularity decline as they struggle to make progress on their top priorities.
Conservative candidates, in turn, outperformed leftist candidates in presidential elections in Ecuador and Argentina last year.
Obstacles ahead for equality
Sheinbaum’s election in Mexico makes history not only because it marks the selection of the country’s first female leader, but also its first president of Jewish heritage.
A scientist and energy engineer, Sheinbaum also participated in a 2007 climate change report that won the Nobel Peace Prize that same year.
In his message marking Sheinbaum’s victory, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau nodded to what her leadership could mean for women and the environment.
“Working together, we will improve the lives of our people, including combating climate change, strengthening international peace and security, promoting gender equality and advancing reconciliation with indigenous peoples,” said Trudeau.
Observers have noted that the election of a female president in Mexico is a milestone that its northern neighbor, the US, has not yet reached. The US granted women full suffrage in 1920, and Mexico did the same in 1953.
But activists warn that Sheinbaum’s election is not necessarily a turning point for women’s rights in the country. Women suffer from high levels of gender-based violence and discrimination in Mexico, and the United Nations estimates that an average of 10 women per day are victims of femicide.
Similarly, on the issue of climate change, Sheinbaum’s critics expressed skepticism, as she pledged to continue her predecessor’s support for the state oil company, Pemex.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
