Mexico elects Claudia Sheinbaum as the first female president in its history

After the federal elections, the ruling party’s candidate obtained an overwhelming majority of the votes and will be the first woman to serve as head of state in the country.

Mexicans went to the polls and, for the first time, elected a woman to the presidency. Claudia Sheinbaum, the leftist candidate for the Morena party, swept the elections this Sunday, June 2.

According to the quick count of Mexico’s National Electoral Institute (INE), the former mayor of Mexico City, supported by current president Andrés Manuel López Obrador, obtained between 58.3% and 60.7% of the votes.

Behind the winner was Xóchitl Gálvez, of the PAN-PRI-PRD coalition, with at least 26.6% of the votes. In last position was Jorge Álvarez Máynez, the independent candidate who garnered votes above 9.9%.

Sheinbaum, a scientist and university professor specializing in renewable energy and climate change, celebrated her electoral victory and wrote on Twitter/X: "This is the triumph of the people of Mexico, of the peaceful revolution of consciences and the recognition of our people that the mandate to continue and advance with the Fourth Transformation of Mexico’s Public Life is clear."

Among his key proposals are the energy transition, control of water use, citizen security in a context of drug trafficking and organized crime, free education and a rise in the minimum wage, among other points.

For her part, Xóchitl Gálvez, the center-right candidate, acknowledged her defeat on Sunday and stated in her speech to the crowd: "A few minutes ago, I communicated with Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum to acknowledge the result of the election. I told her that I saw a Mexico with a lot of pain and violence, and I wished that she can solve the great problems of our people".

From Morena, President López Obrador congratulated voters and expressed on Twitter/X: "Today is a day of glory because the people of Mexico freely and democratically decided that Claudia Sheinbaum will become the first woman president in 200 years of independent life of our Republic."

This time, voter turnout at the polls was between 60% and 61.5%, according to INE. In addition, Mexicans elected 128 senators and 500 deputies at the federal level, as well as more than 19,000 local positions in the various states.

According to the quick count, Morena and its allies (PT and PVEM) secured between 346 and 380 deputies, so they could reach a qualified majority in the chamber. The winning coalition would have obtained between 57 and 60 senators, a figure that would also potentially grant it a qualified majority.

Author: Marina Vanni