Claudia Sheinbaum Wins Historic Mexican Presidency, Pledges Zero Impunity

This Monday, the world’s leaders extended their heartfelt congratulations to Claudia Sheinbaum, who has made history by becoming the newly elected president of Mexico—the first woman to hold the office in the country’s 200-year history. With a challenging landscape ahead of her, Sheinbaum assumes leadership of a nation grappling with high violence rates and significant socioeconomic issues.

At the age of 61, the leftist scientist Claudia Sheinbaum inherits a nation where 80 people are murdered daily, a situation aggravated by criminal groups in collusion with local authorities. During her victory speech, Sheinbaum pledged 'zero impunity' and emphasized eradicating the violence that claimed almost 190,000 lives during the outgoing administration of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, her political mentor.

In addition to tackling violence, Sheinbaum faces the daunting task of reducing poverty, which affects a third of the Mexican population. She also aims to address climate change impacts—with droughts and water scarcity posing severe problems—and manage the nuanced relationship with the United States, predicted to be tense. Despite inheriting a fiscal deficit of nearly 6%, Sheinbaum is determined to deepen AMLO’s social reforms and lead Mexico towards a more equitable future.

Sheinbaum’s presidency comes at a time when Mexico has over 100,000 missing persons, underscoring the critical need for a robust strategy against organized crime and cartels. Experts assert that improving national security is paramount for enabling social and economic progress. Michael Shifter from the Inter-American Dialogue think tank states that Mexico’s deteriorating security situation jeopardizes the government's policy agenda.

Economically, Sheinbaum faces the challenge of a sluggish economy that grew by only 0.8% on average in the last six-year term. The new president aims to correct the fiscal deficit and boost state coffers to finance direct aid for 25 million young, elderly, and disabled Mexicans. Emphasizing 'nearshoring', Sheinbaum hopes to attract investments by relocating parts of foreign production to northern Mexico. However, risk consultant Carlos Ramírez warns that success in 'nearshoring' depends on significantly enhancing infrastructure and security.

Water scarcity, exacerbated by record temperatures and drought affecting hydroelectric dams, stood out prominently in Sheinbaum’s campaign. With a doctorate in environmental engineering, she pledges to increase clean energy investments, contrasting AMLO’s focus on fossil fuels. Additionally, Sheinbaum is committed to reversing the cycle of violence and poverty that drives Mexican migration to the United States.

The complex relationship with the United States poses another significant challenge. With the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) set for review in 2026, tensions might escalate depending on the outcome of the upcoming US presidential elections. Should Trump win, his harsh immigration policies could strain bilateral relations further.

Demonstrating a strong start to her term, Sheinbaum won with between 58.3% and 60.7% of votes, as per the National Electoral Institute’s rapid count, a margin confirmed by preliminary exit polls. Her opponent, Xóchitl Gálvez, graciously acknowledged her defeat, marking a historic transition to Mexico’s first female presidency.

The National Electoral Institute has called for respect and serenity from political actors during this period of transition. Meanwhile, progressive leaders across Latin America have celebrated Sheinbaum’s victory, heralding it as a new era for Mexico. Her presidency represents not only a significant milestone for gender equality but a hopeful shift towards addressing the deep-rooted challenges Mexico faces today.