Claudia Sheinbaum Inaugurated as President - What Comes Next?
Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in as President, a first in Mexico and North America, and shared 100 promises for her administration.
October 1st marks an important day in Mexican history as Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in as president – the first female head of state in North America. She received the presidential sash from Ifigenia Martínez, the president of the Chamber of Deputies and renowned leftist in Mexican politics. Of note, Martínez was one of the founding members of Mexico’s Partido de la Revolución Democrática (PRD), the party that both Sheinbaum and AMLO belonged to prior to the establishment of Morena in 2014. 16 heads of state were in attendance at the inauguration, including Honduras’ Xiomara Castro, Guatemala’s Bernardo Arévalo, Brazil’s Lula da Silva, Chile’s Gabriel Boric, Cuba’s Miguel Díaz-Canel, Colombia’s Gustavo Petro, among others.
In the Zócalo, the center of Mexico City where Mexico’s rich history and diverse identities converge, Sheinbaum paid homage to her supporters, remarking that she didn’t arrive to the presidency alone, but rather, with the help of the people. She dedicated time to remind supporters of the central role that the “pueblo” has played and will continue to play in her administration and promised to always defend Mexico. Sheinbaum’s comments referenced AMLO (designating him “the best president in the history of Mexico”) and his administration, but also made clear Sheinbaum’s commitment to continuing to pursue the 4th Transformation, specifically noting that she will continue the social programs of her predecessor.
Sheinbaum outlined 100 promises for her administration, ranging in scope from the environment and development projects to rights for women, addressing violence, and promoting educational programs. Of note, Sheinbaum proposed the elimination of re-election and vowed not to return to the “irresponsible” war on drugs initiated by Calderón. Included in these points were promises to maintain the price of the basic food basket, electricity, and gasoline, expansion of social welfare programs (with specific mention of the program for women ages 60-64), as well as vows to eliminate corruption and nepotism in the federal government, prohibiting family members from succeeding one another in office. Sheinbaum’s ceremony had references to Mexico’s indigenous roots - her hand-embroidered dress made by Zapotecs in Oaxaca and her participation in the Bastón de Mando during which indigenous and Afro-Mexican groups from across Mexico recognized Sheinbaum as the legitimate leader of the country.
Sheinbaum won more votes than any other president since the country’s transition to democracy in 2000. Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that she secured 3 million more votes than her predecessor. Her election was significant; her presidency even more so. All eyes are on Mexico, watching and waiting to see what will transpire during the Sheinbaum administration. The question as to whether it will merely be an extension of the one prior looms large. It’s possible that Sheinbaum will chart her own path, but today’s inauguration speech, plus her record on the campaign trail, don’t bode well for a significant shift in the policies promoted and pursued by AMLO and Morena over the past six years. Mexico has broken the proverbial glass ceiling with the election of the country, and the continent’s, first female head of state. It’s up to Sheinbaum and her administration to ensure that Mexico doesn’t also break its democracy that it worked so hard to secure.