Claudia Sheinbaum, known affectionately as "la Doctora" due to her impressive academic credentials, has shattered two significant barriers in Mexico's history by becoming the first woman and the first Jewish person elected as president.
What to know: With an academic background in physics and a doctorate in energy engineering, Sheinbaum previously served as the mayor of Mexico City, one of the world’s most populous cities, and contributed to a United Nations climate panel that won a Nobel Peace Prize.
Sheinbaum secured approximately 60% of the vote in what was the largest election in Mexican history, marking a monumental achievement in a country with a predominantly Catholic and traditionally patriarchal culture. At 61, she is set to succeed Andrés Manuel López Obrador, under whom she previously served when he was the head of Mexico City’s government. Obrador’s popular social welfare programs have lifted many out of poverty, boosting the leftist Morena party's favorability.
Born in Mexico City in 1962 to grandparents who escaped the Holocaust, Sheinbaum has had a long-standing commitment to public service and academic excellence. She first became politically active during her undergraduate years at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where she protested against the privatization of public education. After earning a Master's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and returning to UNAM for her doctoral studies, Sheinbaum ventured into politics. In 2000, Obrador appointed her as the environment secretary of Mexico City.
In 2015, she broke new ground by becoming the first woman elected as the head of the Tlalpan district in Mexico City, and in 2018, voters elected her as the city’s head of government. She stepped down from this role in June 2023 to run for president. Sheinbaum's family life includes two children and one grandchild, and her partner, Jesús María Tarriba, is a financial risk specialist.
See also: Mexican Peso Suffers Worst Day In Four Years After Sheinbaum Wins Presidential Elections
Tough decisions in the offing: Looking ahead, Sheinbaum faces daunting tasks, including navigating strained negotiations with the United States regarding the substantial influx of migrants heading towards the U.S. and collaborating on security matters concerning drug trafficking amid the ongoing fentanyl crisis. Mexican officials anticipate that these negotiations could become even more challenging should Donald Trump secure the U.S. presidency in November.
Trump has threatened to impose severe tariffs and take tough measures against drug cartels — Sheinbaum’s diplomatic and negotiation skills will be crucial.
Domestically, Sheinbaum will tackle pressing issues such as electricity and water shortages and develop strategies to attract manufacturing investments through nearshoring. Additionally, she will undertake the task of reforming Pemex, the debt-ridden state oil company, to guide it back to profitability.
As Sheinbaum takes on her role, she carries the heavy expectations of continuing López Obrador's popular policies while forging her path and addressing the criticisms of being just another puppet of her predecessor.
© 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
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