(Scypre.com) – Claudia Sheinbaum, renowned as “la Doctora” for her impressive academic background, is a physicist with a doctorate in energy engineering. Formerly the mayor of one of the world’s largest cities, Sheinbaum was also part of the United Nations climate panel that won the Nobel Peace Prize. On Sunday, she made history as the first woman and the first Jewish person elected president of Mexico.
Sheinbaum secured about 60% of the vote in Mexico’s largest election ever, a significant feat in a predominantly Catholic and patriarchal society. At 61, she will succeed President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), her ally whose social programs have significantly reduced poverty, positioning their Morena party favorably in polls.
“Our duty is and will always be to look after every single Mexican without distinction,” Sheinbaum stated early Monday. “Even though many Mexicans do not fully agree with our project, we will have to walk in peace and harmony to continue building a fair and more prosperous Mexico.”
Born in 1962 in Mexico City to Holocaust survivors, Sheinbaum’s journey began in student politics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), opposing the privatization of public education. She furthered her education at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a Master’s degree in energy engineering and then returning to UNAM for her doctorate.
Entering politics in 2000 as Mexico City’s environment secretary under Obrador, she later joined the International Panel on Climate Change, contributing to its Nobel Prize-winning efforts. Sheinbaum broke new ground by becoming the first woman to lead the Tlalpan district in 2015 and subsequently, in 2018, the first female mayor of Mexico City.
Sheinbaum, a mother of two with one grandchild, shares her life with Jesús María Tarriba, a financial risk specialist at the Bank of Mexico whom she met at university.
Despite AMLO’s high approval ratings, some doubt whether Sheinbaum can sufficiently distance herself from his legacy. Journalist Jorge Zepeda suggests she may initially follow AMLO’s lead but will eventually reveal her own agenda, guided by data and science, unlike Obrador’s tendency to prioritize party loyalty.
Obrador’s tenure, while effective in poverty reduction, faced criticism for his “hugs, not bullets” policy, which failed to curb cartel violence. This election was the bloodiest in Mexico’s history, with numerous candidates killed by criminal organizations. Sheinbaum must urgently address organized crime and security, as Mexico grapples with a high homicide rate and rampant femicide.
Will Freeman of the Council on Foreign Relations highlights Sheinbaum’s proven security improvements as mayor, but whether she can replicate these on a national scale remains uncertain.
US-Mexico relations are crucial, especially with both nations facing elections in 2024. Sheinbaum’s administration will begin just before Americans vote, amid significant issues like immigration. The relationship between Mexico and the US, especially in managing migration, will be pivotal. The Biden administration anticipates continued cooperation but remains cautious about potential changes during Mexico’s government transition.