Mexico City, Mexico – Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, a scientist and politician turned engineer, was sworn into office on Tuesday, becoming Mexico’s first female president.
As is customary, she began her six-year term with an inauguration ceremony in Mexico City’s main square, El Zocalo, home to the National Palace and city government offices, which stand on ancient ruins from the pre-Hispanic past. of Mexico.
The square, where only days earlier protesters had gathered to denounce the Mexican government’s failure to bring justice to 43 college students who were forcibly disappeared in 2014, was now overflowing with Sheinbaum’s supporters.
“For the first time, not in 200 years, but at least in 503 years, there has not been a woman president of Mexico. And as we always say, she didn’t arrive alone; all of us, the women of Mexico, arrived together,” she told the cheering crowd.
Sheinbaum also praised the government of her political patron, outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. She thanked him and said he was “the best president our country has ever had.”
Later, representatives of Mexico’s indigenous community presented Sheinbaum with the baton of command, meant to symbolize support for him from Mexico’s indigenous peoples.
At the center of her speech, Sheinbaum listed 100 promises for her six-year term, a tactic López Obrador also used upon taking office in 2018.
Her “100 points of commitment for the next six years” include Mexico’s industrial development, security strategy, the fight against corruption and human rights.
Sheinbaum reaffirmed the commitment to turn Mexico into an industrial haven for North America. “We welcome private investments and the relocation of companies with innovation, good wages, environmental protection and national content,” she said while announcing the goal of building 100 industrial plants in the country.
Martin Ariza, a professor at the University of Oaxaca who traveled six hours to witness Sheinbaum’s inauguration, told Aztec Reports he was excited to hear the president’s plan of action.
“These 100 points are very important for the development of the country,” he said. “They mainly focus on the southeast. I believe the main strength lies in the south and I think that is where a lot of potential will be developed. There are many hardworking people and many who need company and development.”
Ariza said he believes significant development awaits in Mexico, particularly in its southeast, during Sheinbaum’s tenure.
Among her promises, Sheinbaum emphasized a greater role for women in the country, announcing the creation of a Ministry of Women and a series of reforms to be announced in the coming days to promote gender equality.
While the election of Mexico’s first female leader is seen as a big step in the right direction for women’s rights, many rights groups are wary of Sheinbaum’s record on women’s issues, particularly her crackdown on protesters. during her tenure as mayor of Mexico City.
Across Mexico, 10 women are killed a day, and the president will face an uphill battle to make the country safer and more equal for women.
“Having a female president is definitely a historic step, but there is still a long way to go. Patriarchal violence is present everywhere; it is completely intertwined with Mexican politics. I believe it will be quite a challenge for him,” Naela Ruíz, a 25-year-old student, told Aztec Reports.
Discussing the economy, Sheinbaum promised to continue the economic policies of her populist predecessor, including maintaining the minimum wage — which rose 100% over the past six years. She also promised to reduce the work week from 48 to 40 hours, something the López Obrador administration tried but failed to do in his term.
Overall, much of Sheinbaum’s political agenda is a continuation of the populist policies of the previous administration, while promising a more humanistic government with a social perspective.
The new president mentioned the case of the 43 missing students, which has become emblematic of the wave of human rights violations and impunity in Mexico.
Like her predecessor, she vowed to continue working to solve the case and find the missing students. However, López Obrador’s government has been accused of obstructing investigators and protecting military officials involved in the case.
For Susana Ramírez, a 47-year-old academic from Mexico City who attended Tuesday’s rally, Sheinbaum’s inauguration brings hope.
“We have grown a lot and I believe that this is thanks to this government, because it trusted the people and gave us a voice. There is much to do, but we believe in these 100 promises that Claudia Sheinbaum communicated to us today. I have a lot of faith in her and I’m very proud as a woman that she was a candidate,” she told Aztec Reports.
