Mexico's first woman president sworn in
Claudia Sheinbaum promised to expand health care and battle violence against women, though she takes office amid a budget deficit and growing cartel violence
What happened
Mexico's new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, took office Tuesday, becoming the first woman and first Jewish person to lead the country. The a 62-year-old environmental engineer and former Mexico City mayor was sworn in for her six-year term at a ceremony in Mexico's Congress.
Who said what
"It's time for transformation, it's time for women," Sheinbaum said, flanked by women soldiers. "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." Hundreds of people changed "Presidenta!" — the feminine form of her new title — as she was handed the red, white and green presidential sash by Ifigenia Martinez, president of the Chamber of Deputies.
Sheinbaum, who "grew up in a Jewish intellectual family" and holds a PhD in energy engineering, is "more cerebral and less folksy than her charismatic predecessor" and mentor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, The Washington Post said. She won in June elections with the "largest margin of victory since Mexico transitioned to democracy" and an "effective supermajority" in Congress, The New York Times said, but she isn't a "transcendent political talent" like López Obrador, and there are "questions over how much influence" he will "exert over his protégé."
What next?
Sheinbaum offered 100 pledges at a celebration yesterday afternoon at Mexico's Zócalo plaza, including expanding health care and enacting reforms to battle violence against women, Reuters said. But she takes office with "the largest budget deficit since the 1980s and lagging economic growth," as well as growing cartel violence.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
How Britain's demographic is changing
A 50-year record population increase was fuelled by greater migration
By Richard Windsor, The Week UK Published
-
The story of Japanese jeweller Tasaki
The Blend A revival in the use of pearls in fashion and jewellery design places heritage brand Tasaki centre stage
By Felix Bischof Published
-
The world's most beautiful gardens
The Blend For the last word in gardening leave, our pick of the best scent-filled stays
By Delilah Khomo Published
-
Georgia top court reinstates abortion ban
Speed Read The Georgia Supreme Court moved to restore the state's six-week abortion ban. Many women do not yet know they are pregnant at six weeks.
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Harris storms media with '60 Minutes,' Stern, podcasts
Speed Read The Democratic candidate is doing a blitz of interviews with less-traditional media
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel marks Oct. 7 attack, hits Lebanon, Gaza
Speed Read It has been one year since Hamas attacked Israel festival goers, sparking an escalating conflict in the Middle East
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
UK cedes Chagos Islands to Mauritius, minus US base
Speed Read Mauritius has long argued it was forced to give up the islands in 1965 in return for independence from Britain
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Liz Cheney campaigns with Harris in Wisconsin
Speed Read The pair does not agree on much politically, but they share an anti-Trump stance
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Mexico's first woman president has unprecedented power but an uncertain future
In the Spotlight Claudia Sheinbaum has promised to continue her predecessor's legacy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Harris visit storm-hit North Carolina, Georgia
Speed Read President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took separate tours of the south to view the catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Jack Smith filing details Jan. 6 case against Trump
Speed Read The special counsel's newly unsealed brief argues Trump is not immune from prosecution and gives new details on his efforts to overturn the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published