Claudia Sheinbaum, a Nobel Prize-winning climate scientist, will become Mexico’s first female president following her stunning victory.
The 61-year-old received between 58.3% and 60.7% of the vote, the highest level of support for a candidate since the collapse of a one-party government in 2000. She thanked outgoing leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. She described him as “an exceptional, unique man who has transformed Mexico for the better.”
Sheinbaum’s win is a huge milestone for Mexico, which is known for its macho culture. The main opposition rival, Xochitl Galvez, conceded after acquiring 26.6% to 28.6% of the vote.
On October 1, Sheinbaum will become the first woman elected to a US, Mexican, or Canadian general election.
Sheinbaum has promised to increase Lopez Obrador’s welfare initiatives, despite inheriting a large budget deficit and slow economic development. She wants to strengthen security, but she confronts considerable obstacles, particularly as organised crime’s power grows during Lopez Obrador’s administration.
Sheinbaum will also manage strained US relations, notably those involving migration and drug trafficking. She intends to handle internal challenges such as energy and water shortages, as well as the struggling state-owned oil company Pemex.
