Who Is Claudia Sheinbaum? Mexico's First Female President Takes Oath

Claudia Sheinbaum, who is the first woman to be elected as president in Mexico's 200-year history, took oath on October 2. "Women have arrived to shape the destiny of our beautiful nation," she declared, vowing to ensure bolster women's rights in the Latin American country. The climate scientist-turned-politician took the oath of office and received the presidential sash in a grand ceremony in Mexico's Congress, marking the start of her six-year term. She succeeded President Lopez Obrador, ushering in an unprecedented shift in Mexico's political environment.

Mexico's First Female President Takes Oath

"It's time for transformation, it's time for women," Sheinbaum expressed, according to Reuters. "I'm a mother, a grandmother, a scientist and a woman of faith, and from today, by the will of the Mexican people, the president." According to the National Electoral Institute's (INE) official rapid count in June 2024, Sheinbaum became the first woman elected president in Mexico's 200-year history. 

India's Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Pabitra Margherita was also at the swearing-in ceremony. Expressing delight as he represented the nation in Mexico, he shared his eagerness to working with the new government and strengthening the partnership between the two countries. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended congratulations to the people of Mexico on the historic moment.

Honored to represent India at the swearing-in of Dr. @Claudiashein as first woman President of Mexico.

Congratulations to the people of Mexico on this historic moment !

Look forward to working with the new Govt. for further strengthening the 🇮🇳-🇲🇽 partnership. @MEAIndia⁩ pic.twitter.com/txwkbR9o0O

— Pabitra Margherita (@PmargheritaBJP) October 1, 2024

Breaking Barriers and Inspiring Change

Addressing her supporters at the Zocalo, Mexico City's main square soon after the election, Sheinbaum expressed her gratitude for the historic moment. With a resolute smile, she declared, "I will become the first woman president of Mexico. I don't make it alone. We've all made it, with our heroines who gave us our homeland, with our mothers, our daughters, and our granddaughters."

With a projected vote share ranging between 58.3% and 60.7%, Sheinbaum's win was decisive, leaving no room for doubt about the will of the people. The opposition candidate, Xóchitl Gálvez, received between 26.6% and 28.6% of the vote, while Jorge Álvarez Máynez received 9.9% to 10.8%. Sheinbaum's Morena Party was likewise expected to win majorities in both chambers of Congress.

The fact that the two top contenders were women left little doubt that Mexico would make history on June 2nd. The climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City stated that her two competitors had reached out to acknowledge her victory.

Sheinbaum will also be the first Jewish leader of a primarily Catholic country.   She will begin her six-year tenure on Oct. 1 as the Mexican constitution prohibits reelection.

Sheinbaum vowed to retain all of López Obrador's initiatives, including a universal pension for the elderly and a programme that pays young people to apprentice.  The primary issues on voters' minds were the ongoing cartel violence and Mexico's lacklustre economic performance.

Who Is Claudia Sheinbaum?

Sheinbaum is a member of  President Obrador’s National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) party, which stands tall with an extensive lead in the polls. If this continues, Sheinbaum is likely to spearhead the party as its presidential candidate, paving the way for the country to elect its first female leader. While President Obrador has said in public that he has no favourite candidate, reports and close aides to the president revealed that he would, without a doubt, want Sheinbaum to lead the country after him. President Obrador’s mission to bring social change within the fabric of his country would go a considerable step further if he and the country can elect the first woman president in 2024, which could be both historic and inspirational.

Born on 24 June, 1962, in the vibrant heart of Mexico City, Claudia Sheinbaum's trajectory towards political prominence was rooted in her upbringing and academic pursuits. Raised by esteemed scientists Annie Pardo Cemo and Carlos Sheinbaum, Claudia inherited a passion for knowledge and a drive for excellence. Her journey through academia led her to the prestigious halls of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), where she honed her intellect and pursued her fervour for understanding the natural world.

Undeterred by the complexities of environmental challenges, she continued her scholarly pursuits, obtaining a Master's degree in energy engineering and ultimately a doctorate in environmental engineering. Her groundbreaking research, conducted at the esteemed University of California's Berkeley Lab, digs deep into Mexico's energy consumption trends, offering invaluable insights into the nation's environmental arena.

She has also authored over a hundred articles on the topics of energy, sustainable development, and the environment. She completed her thesis at the Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory in California. In her research, she analysed the use of energy in Mexico’s transportation and published several studies on the then ongoing trends of energy use by Mexican buildings.

Fuelled by her passion for social and environmental justice, Claudia Sheinbaum seamlessly transitioned from academia to activism, embarking on a journey to effect meaningful change through political channels. In 1998, she played a pivotal role in the establishment of the student-led Revolutionary Democratic Party, cementing her commitment to advocating for the rights of the people.

Her foray into governmental affairs began in 2000, when she assumed the role of Secretary of the Environment for Mexico City under the leadership of then-Mayor Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Throughout her tenure, Sheinbaum spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability and combating environmental degradation. Notable accomplishments include the implementation of the revolutionary Metrobus system and the construction of essential infrastructure projects to alleviate traffic congestion.

Given her background, she served as the Secretary of the Environment of the City from 2000 to 2006. She also served as the Mayor of Tlalpan from 2015 to 2017. In 2018, she was listed as one of BBC's 100 inspirational women.

Sheinbaum had significantly contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The panel was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007.

Pitching her candidature, Sheinbaum looks to bring about change

Sheinbaum was the second woman to hold the office of Mayor after she was elected as part of the Juntos Haremos Historia coalition in 2018. She holds a record for making the city safe for women and assisting families by offering free daycare for children. Sheinbaum, who believes she is the torchbearer of the current president's ideologies, has also expressed that her work goes beyond the party and that her vision to work towards green technology can be a huge shift in Mexico's development.