Claudia Sheinbaum officially became Mexico’s first female president and the first of Jewish heritage in a historic inauguration ceremony at the Legislative Palace of San Lázaro. The event was marked by excitement as attendees greeted Sheinbaum and took selfies with her before she approached outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Ifigenia Martínez, president of Mexico’s Chamber of Congress.
In a symbolic act, Martínez handed Sheinbaum the presidential sash adorned with the Mexican flag, marking the official transfer of power between López Obrador and Sheinbaum.
After taking her oath, Sheinbaum addressed a room filled with over 100 prominent guests, including U.S. First Lady Jill Biden and several presidents from African and Latin American countries.
In her speech, Sheinbaum expressed pride in becoming the first woman to lead Mexico and outlined her administration’s priorities, which include promoting human rights, ensuring freedom, and continuing peaceful foreign policies. She emphasized her commitment to expanding on social programs established by López Obrador and pledged to focus on the needs of the Mexican people.
Claudia Sheinbaum Becomes Mexico’s First Female and Jewish President in Historic Inauguration
Sheinbaum, a former mayor of Mexico City and climate scientist, first made history three months earlier by winning a decisive election against Xóchitl Gálvez and Jorge Álvarez Máynez. As a member of the Morena party, which was founded by López Obrador, Sheinbaum is expected to continue many of his policies.
López Obrador leaves office with high approval ratings, thanks to his welfare programs, social reforms, and efforts to combat corruption. Sheinbaum has committed to following in his footsteps, particularly in tackling Mexico’s violence through López Obrador’s “hugs, not bullets” policy, which avoids directly confronting criminal organizations.
However, López Obrador’s term was marked by persistent high crime rates, with over 199,000 homicides and thousands of disappearances reported. Although his approach to crime prevention didn’t show significant improvements, Sheinbaum faces the challenge of maintaining his popularity while addressing Mexico’s ongoing violence issues.
She also inherits significant economic challenges, including a lagging currency, a growing budget deficit, and tensions with major trade partners, particularly due to a controversial judicial reform.
Sheinbaum’s presidency will also play a crucial role in managing U.S.-Mexico relations, particularly regarding immigration, trade, and foreign policy.
Her inauguration was attended by high-ranking U.S. officials, including Hispanic U.S. Cabinet members of Mexican descent, as well as other prominent figures from the Mexican American community. The presence of such a delegation underscores the importance of U.S.-Mexico cooperation, especially on key issues like trade and security.
