The Jewish Claudia Sheinbaum Elected as first Female Mexico President

 

Mexicans have voted for a new president in an election that marks a major milestone.

For the first time in the country's history, the race came down to two female candidates: Claudia Sheinbaum (above), of the ruling Morena party, and Xochitl Galvez, of the opposition alliance.

Claudia Sheinbaum, candidate of the left-wing populist Morena party, emerged as the clear favorite after early exit polls were released. The granddaughter of Jewish immigrants from Lithuania, Sheinbaum is an experienced politician, having served as mayor of Mexico City. Support for her party has grown significantly over the past years, and Morena currently holds around two-thirds of Mexico's 32 mayorships.

Sheinbaum also has the backing of the current Mexican president and Morena party leader, Andres Lopez Obrador, who remains widely popular. He is not eligible to run, however, as the constitution limits a president to one six-year term.

Sheinbaum has campaigned on a platform of continuity, specifically of the reforms begun by Lopez Obrador, whose ongoing popularity — his current approval rating tops 60% — is likely due in part to the state social programs he initiated. However, some political observers question how sustainable these programs may be.

June 2 was the largest election in Mexican history, with some 100 million eligible voters: Ballots were also cast for Congress, nine state governments and more than 20,000 public offices.

Blomeier believes the future congressional makeup will be decisive for the political direction of the world's largest Spanish-speaking country. "With respect to democracy, one hopes that along with a clear mandate for the new government, voters will also ensure there is meaningful democratic opposition in Congress, so the democratic and legal steps backward taken by the current administration will not be topped by the next administration through a constitutional majority."