The biggest problems Mexico's first female president Claudia Sheinbaum is facing | DW News

Summary

Claudia Sheinbaum has made history as Mexico's first female president, winning the presidential election as the chosen successor of leftist President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. As the former mayor of Mexico City and a scientist by profession, Sheinbaum is expected to bring a pragmatic and technical approach to her presidency. She faces significant challenges, including addressing migration, relations with the United States, and Mexico's ongoing drug-related violence. Her victory resonates with the public, who are hopeful for her leadership in tackling corruption and prioritizing the poor. However, the country's security issues, particularly gender-based violence, remain a pressing concern that will require Sheinbaum's immediate attention.

Takeaways

• 🎉 Claudia Sheinbaum has made history by becoming the first woman to be elected as the President of Mexico.
• 🏆 Sheinbaum was the handpicked successor of the leftist President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and was the favorite to win the election.
• 🌐 As the former mayor of Mexico City, Sheinbaum faces significant challenges ahead, including migration, relations with the United States, and the country's ongoing drug-related violence.
• 📣 Sheinbaum pledged to lead an office that serves all people, with a focus on the poor and marginalized, during her victory speech.
• 👏 The public has shown strong support for Sheinbaum's election, expressing pride in having a woman lead the country for the first time in 200 years.
• 🏁 Sheinbaum is set for a landslide victory over her main opponent, with businesswoman Josefina Vázquez Mota conceding defeat.
• 🚨 Violence marred the election process, with one person killed at a polling station and over 30 presidential candidates assassinated, marking the most violent election in Mexico's history.
• 🛑 Tackling crime is a top priority for Sheinbaum's administration, along with addressing corruption and eliminating presidential privileges.
• 🔬 Sheinbaum is a technocrat with a background in science, holding a PhD from UNAM, and is expected to approach the presidency with a pragmatic and technical perspective.
• 🔄 Domestic security and drug-related violence are major issues that Sheinbaum will need to address, alongside the need for improved relations with the United States, particularly concerning security and fentanyl trafficking.
• 👥 Gender-based violence is a significant problem in Mexico, and there is hope that Sheinbaum's election as the first female president may lead to positive changes in this area.

Q & A

Who is Claudia Shane Bal and what historical significance does her victory hold?

Claudia Shane Bal is the first woman to be elected as the President of Mexico. Her victory in the presidential election is historic as it breaks the gender barrier in the country's highest office.

What are some of the major challenges that Claudia Shane Bal will face as the President of Mexico?

As the President-elect, Claudia Shane Bal will face significant challenges including addressing migration, managing relations with the United States, and tackling the country's severe drug-related violence.

What was the political background of Claudia Shane Bal prior to her presidential victory?

Claudia Shane Bal was the former mayor of Mexico City and served as the minister of the environment. She is also a scientist by profession with a PhD from UNAM in Mexico, indicating her pragmatic and technical approach to governance.

How did the public react to the election of the first female president in Mexico?

The public's reaction was largely positive, with many expressing pride and satisfaction in having a well-prepared woman to govern them. It is seen as a significant step forward for gender equality in the country.

What was the outcome of the election in terms of Claudia Shane Bal's victory margin?

Claudia Shane Bal is set for a landslide victory over her main opponent, with the businesswoman from an indigenous background, Saw Tiel Galves, conceding defeat.

What are some of the key issues that Claudia Shane Bal addressed during her victory speech?

In her victory speech, Claudia Shane Bal pledged to govern for everyone, with a focus on taking care of the poor first. She also addressed issues such as corruption, privileges, the presidential airplane, retirement pensions for former presidents, and the presidential state guard.

How does the Mexican Constitution limit the presidency, and when does Claudia Shane Bal's term begin?

The Mexican Constitution allows for only one term in presidencies. Claudia Shane Bal's term is set to begin on October 1st.

What is the current state of public security in Mexico, and how does it relate to the new administration?

Public security, particularly violence, is a significant issue in Mexico. The new administration under Claudia Shane Bal will need to address this, continuing with the security policy of the current president, which focuses on prevention and social programs.

What was the level of violence during the election campaign, and how does it compare to previous elections?

The election campaign was marked by extreme violence, with more than 30 presidential candidates being assassinated, making it the most violent election in Mexico's history.

What are some of the expectations from Claudia Shane Bal's presidency in terms of addressing gender-based violence?

There is hope that with the election of Mexico's first female president, there will be a greater focus on and reduction of gender-based violence. Claudia Shane Bal is expected to continue policies that address the challenges faced by women and potentially implement new measures to combat this issue.

How does the international community view the election of Claudia Shane Bal and the challenges she will face?

The international community is watching closely, particularly the United States, as security issues, especially drug trafficking, are a priority in the bilateral relationship. The focus will be on how Claudia Shane Bal addresses these challenges and continues the policies of her predecessor.

Outlines

00:00

🎉 Victory of Mexico's First Female President

Claudia Shane Bal has made history by winning the presidential election in Mexico, becoming the first woman to hold the office. As the chosen successor of the leftist President Andrees Manuel Lopez Obrador, she faced significant challenges including migration, relations with the United States, and the country's severe drug-related violence. Despite a violent election period that saw numerous candidate assassinations, Shane Bal's win resonates with the public, who are proud to see a woman lead their country. She pledges an inclusive government that prioritizes the poor and vows to tackle corruption and the privileges of the presidency. With a unique opportunity to implement change, Shane Bal's term will begin on October 1st, and she will need to address these pressing issues with a pragmatic and technical approach, as suggested by her background as a scientist and technocrat.

05:00

🚨 Addressing Violence and Security Challenges

The newly elected president of Mexico, Claudia Shane Bal, faces the daunting task of addressing the country's rampant violence and security issues. Despite a campaign promise to continue with the 'hugs, not bullets' policy of the current president, which focuses on social and education programs to prevent violence, the homicide rates have continued to rise. The election period was marked by extreme violence, with over 30 candidates killed, highlighting the need for a more effective approach to cartel violence. The complexity of the issue is compounded by the fact that Mexican cartels have expanded beyond national borders, becoming transnational criminal organizations. This poses a significant challenge for both Mexico and its northern neighbor, the United States, particularly in relation to drug trafficking.

10:03

👥 The Impact of a Female President on Gender-Based Violence

The election of Mexico's first female president, Claudia Shane Bal, raises questions about the potential impact on the country's high rates of gender-based violence. While Mexico is traditionally known for its machismo culture, the historic election is seen by some as a sign of progress and a potential catalyst for change. It is hoped that Shane Bal's presidency will bring greater respect for women's rights and address the serious issues of domestic violence, gender parity, and femicides. However, the challenge remains significant, and it will be crucial for the new president to not only symbolize change but also implement policies that effectively tackle these deeply rooted societal problems.

15:04

🛡️ Continuation of Current Policies and the Challenge of Violence

The policy approach of the outgoing President Manuel Lopez Obrador has been a mix of promoting social programs and militarization of public security, yet it has not resulted in a cohesive strategy to combat violence in Mexico. The continuation of these policies under the presidency of Claudia Shane Bal raises concerns, especially given the lack of success in reducing violence and the human rights implications of militarization. While Shane Bal has indicated a willingness to strengthen institutions like the prosecutor's office, there is also a pledge to continue with the militarization of public security, which has been criticized by human rights and feminist organizations. The challenge for the incoming president will be to address the social and institutional roots of violence and crime effectively, moving beyond the mixed legacy left by her predecessor.

Keywords

💡Claudia Shane Bal

Claudia Shane Bal is a central figure in the video script, as she is described as making history by becoming the first woman to win the presidential election in Mexico. Her victory is a significant milestone in the country's political landscape, representing a break from traditional male-dominated leadership. The script mentions her as the handpicked successor of the leftist President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, indicating a continuation of his political agenda.

💡Presidential Election

The term 'presidential election' refers to the process by which citizens vote for their country's leader. In the context of the video, it is the event that led to Claudia Shane Bal's victory and her historic achievement as Mexico's first female president. The election is portrayed as a major turning point for Mexico's political future.

💡Migration

Migration is the movement of people from one region or country to another with the intent to settle, temporarily or permanently. In the video script, migration is one of the significant challenges that the newly elected president will face, particularly in relation to Mexico's relations with the United States. It is a complex issue that involves economic, social, and political factors.

💡Drug-Related Violence

Drug-related violence refers to acts of aggression and conflict stemming from the illegal drug trade. The script highlights this as a rampant issue in Mexico, which will be a top priority for Claudia Shane Bal's administration to address. It is a critical social problem that has led to a high number of homicides and has been a focus of the country's security policy.

💡Technocrat

A technocrat is a person who is an expert in technology or a particular field and uses their technical knowledge to govern or make decisions. In the video, Claudia Shane Bal is described as a technocrat, having a PhD from UNAM and a background in environmental science. This suggests that her approach to the presidency will be pragmatic and detail-oriented, based on her technical expertise.

💡Hugs Not Bullets

The phrase 'hugs not bullets' is used in the script to describe the security policy of President López Obrador, which focuses on social programs and education to prevent violence rather than military force. This policy will likely be continued by President-elect Shane Bal, indicating a preference for non-violent, preventative measures to combat crime.

💡Femicide

Femicide refers to the killing of women and girls because of their gender. The script mentions the high rates of femicide in Mexico as a significant issue that the new president will need to address. It is a form of gender-based violence that highlights the need for stronger policies to protect women's rights and safety.

💡Public Security

Public security encompasses measures taken by the government to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens. In the video, public security is identified as a major challenge for the incoming president, with the script noting the high levels of violence and the need for effective policies to combat crime and ensure citizen safety.

💡Machismo

Machismo is a cultural concept associated with traditional male gender roles, emphasizing traits such as strength, courage, and dominance. The script discusses the historical prevalence of machismo in Mexico and how the election of a female president could signal a shift in societal attitudes towards gender roles and the empowerment of women.

💡Transnational Criminal Organizations

Transnational criminal organizations are groups that operate across national borders, engaging in illegal activities. The script mentions that Mexican cartels have evolved into transnational criminal organizations, which complicates efforts to combat drug-related violence and crime, as their operations extend beyond Mexico's borders.

Highlights

Claudia Shane Bal wins presidential election in Mexico, making history as the first woman to hold the office.

Shane Bal is the handpicked successor of leftist President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Former mayor of Mexico City, Shane Bal was always a favorite to win.

President-elect faces challenges including migration, relations with the United States, and drugs-related violence.

Mexico's biggest election in history produces a unique winner in Claudia Shane Bal.

Shane Bal pledges an office that leads for all, with a focus on the poor.

Public reaction is positive, with many proud of having a female president.

Shane Bal looks set for a landslide victory over her main opponent.

At least one person killed at a polling station, and over 30 presidential candidates assassinated before the vote.

Tackling crime will be a top mandate for Shane Bal's office.

Shane Bal also addresses corruption and the need for transparency in government.

Mexico's Constitution allows only one term presidencies, giving Shane Bal six years to implement her agenda.

Jason Marquez discusses Shane Bal's background as a technocrat and scientist.

Security and violence were top issues during the campaign, with a focus on prevention and social programs.

Homicide rates continue to increase in Mexico, requiring a new approach from the president-elect.

Cartel violence is an intractable problem due to historical and transnational factors.

Gender-based violence is a significant issue, and the election of a female president may influence change.

Uroo Sarukhan discusses the challenges of public security and US-Mexico collaboration under the new presidency.

The impact of Mexico's first female president on gender parity and femicides.

H. K. P. P. Sant Maria discusses the context of the feminist movement in Mexico and its relation to the new presidency.

The new president may continue current policies but also needs to address the social and institutional roots of violence.

Concerns about the militarization of public security and its impact on human rights.

Transcripts

now to Mexico and Claudia Shane Bal has

swept to victory in Sunday's

presidential election making history as

the first woman to hold the office as

the handpicked successor of leftist

President andrees Manuel Lopez orador

the former mayor of Mexico City was

always a favorite to win the

president-elect now faces some big

challenges including migration relations

with the United States and the country's

rampant drugs related

violence Mexico's biggest election in

history has produced a unique

winner Claudia Shane bomb is set to

become the country's next

president cheers and Jubilation

decorated her Celebration Speech the

former mayor pledged an office that

leads for

[Music]

all we will govern for everyone men and

women but as a humanistic principle of

our movement for the good of every one

first take care of the

poor her win has resonated with the

[Music]

public we are proud that we are giving

way to a woman to govern

us you can see that she is well

prepared and that is very

satisfying I feel very happy very proud

and fully represented as a woman because

For the First Time in 200 years we have

a female

president Shane bomb looks set for a

landslide victory over her main opponent

she saw Tiel galves a businesswoman from

an indigenous background conceded defeat

with a final

[Applause]

request I would like to emphasize that

my recognition of the results comes with

a firm demand for Solutions and outcomes

to the serious problems the country

faces at least one person was killed at

a polling station in pbla state and more

than 30 presidential candidates were

assassinated ahead of Sunday's vote

making it the most violent election in

Mexico's history tackling crime will be

a top mandate for Claudia Shane bomb's

office but she also addressed other

major concerns for Mexico's

public we will be AER corruption won't

come back nor the Privileges nor the

presidential airplane or the retirement

pensions for former presidents or the

presidential State

guard Mexico's Constitution only allows

one term presidencies this means Claudia

Shane bomb has six years to take forward

the issues on her agenda when her time

in office begins on October 1st

Jason marzac is senior director of the

Atlantic council's Adrian AR Latin

America Center he joins us from

Washington at DC welcome to DW give us

an idea if you would of who Mexico's

first female president is what's the

background well uh president Le Shin

bomb was head of government of Mexico

City uh she served as minister of the

environment uh in Mexico City but also

importantly she is a um she's a a

scientist by profession she's a

technocrat uh she has a PHD at uh at the

UNAM in Mexico so she is somebody who

will approach the presidency from a very

pragmatic technical perspective I'll

tell you when I first met with um with

her team when she was head of government

Mexico City they showed me a 220 page

plan of government uh that was put

together immediately when she took

office as as a head of government mexic

City and my understanding is on a

regular basis perhaps even a weekly

basis she's asking her team to say the

extent to which those uh government

plans were being addressed and

implemented so you know I expect a

president who is incredibly

methodical uh very detail oriented uh at

the same time a president who is you

know the uh handpick successor uh to the

current president who is uh very popular

and will largely continue as your report

showed with the policies of President

Lopez oor and from the outside it looks

as though domestic security especially

drugs related violence is the biggest

problem uh in the president's intree is

it yeah you know security violence were

the top issues as part of the as part of

the the campaign the last presidential

debate uh squarely focused on security

uh President elect Shin bom has vowed to

continue with the security policy of

President Lopez or which is focused on

uh uh essentially hugs and not bullets

uh which is to find ways to prevent

violence uh social programs uh education

programs but at the same time there is

going to be a real a focus and a real

need for the president elect to be able

to extend even Beyond some of the

policies of the current president

because we've seen homicide rates

continue to increase in Mexico under

this previous uh the previous six years

and we saw one of the most violent

campaigns uh in history as your report

showed uh with upwards of 30 different

candidates largely at a local level uh

being killed as part of this uh the

campaign season so uh luckily the

weekend was uh free of major uh violence

um and we didn't see that the polling

stations either but this is going to be

her priority uh Focus not only for

Mexico but also for the United States

for Mexico's Northern neighbor where uh

security especially fentel trafficking

is a priority in the batal relationship

and so why is cartel violence such an

intractable problem in

Mexico well you know there there's been

different approaches to try to combat

cartel violence over the years in Mexico

uh you know uh back 20 years ago the

early 2000s the president of time had a

strategy to try to go after the Kingpin

uh that just resulted in even more

violence because the different cartels

ended up fighting among each other uh

you know there's it's it's it

historically goes back to the fact that

there are areas of the country that uh

don't have as much uh support from uh

State security and also the ways in

which state security is divided between

the federal government the local

government also important to point out

the fact that Mexican cartels are no

longer just Mexican cartels trans

criminal organizations have become trans

AAL criminal organizations so you see

Mexican cartels uh operating all across

uh this the Western Hemisphere and that

gives them further power within Mexico

itself okay Mexico also has a a problem

uh with gender-based violence and so one

wonders is the election o of the

country's first female president likely

to have much of of an effect on those

disturbingly High uh gender based

violence

rates yeah well Phil I hope so so right

I mean I think that Mexico is known as a

country that is uh historically more

machista and so the fact that Mexico now

has its first woman president hopefully

that will be a a a sign RIT large across

Mexico of the um of the the need to uh

respect the rights of women and and and

Claudia Shin bomb as well will likely

continue with policies at a uh now now

in the presidency that will address some

of the challenges that uh uh that women

have faced um I think there are there

are certain things that can be done at a

uh at a micro level as well uh things

like economic empowerment that helps to

reduce uh gender-based violence uh but

uh giving uh having those policies so

that uh you know women have greater

ownership over their own lives and

there's less uh less control by by the

men and and and the and the household uh

that that helps to um hopefully or

reduce the gender-based violence that is

uh unfortunately prevalent in Mexico

okay good talking to you thanks for that

Jason marac from the Atlantic

Council thank you very

much uro sarukhan is a former Mexican

ambassador to the United States he's now

president of Consultant Group sakhan and

Associates welcome to DW what would you

say is the biggest problem facing the

president elect

now there's no out that public security

or public in security is going to be one

of the main challenges she faces we saw

it rear its head in terms of the 34

candidates for elected office that were

killed during this presidential cycle

and it's going to be a critical

challenge going forward she has promised

to maintain Lor's policies in the realm

of public security but that poses a huge

challenge because that Paradigm seems to

be broken and more importantly she will

have to also tackle the issue of us

Mexico collaboration which was

eviscerated under the current

president okay so she is uh uh Manuel o

orador um she is his his his air his his

hand picked successor so how then does

she close those gaps and stay uh stay

faithful to her

mental that's going to be that's the big

question everyone's asking at this point

because

um because of the important Victory last

night uh it's going to be very hard for

her to wean herself from the shadow that

L will cast over her and over the

country and so how does she um cve her

own path forward while at the same time

as she has promised to do double down on

the Legacy the public policy Legacy of

the current

president okay so the the the president

you you talked about his looming Shadow

uh there will he go quietly into the

night or do you expect to to see uh the

current president a sort of backseat

driver in the new

Administration I I think he will

certainly go quietly because of the

results last night in Mexico City but he

he he will be a force to contend with he

will be in his ranch in southern Mexico

he has promised to you know retire from

public life but the fact that he he has

such a close relationship ship with the

president-elect the fact that Moren has

won such a resounding Victory the fact

that they are potentially on track to

obtain a super majority in Congress

which is very relevant because that

would allow them to change the

Constitution um I I think it will be

hard for the for the outgoing president

to sort of stay mum and stay quiet and

not to be poking his finger into policy

decision making that the president elect

uh will be implementing in the coming

months and remember we also have this

horrendously long transition in Mexico

elections were yesterday but Claudia

shaine bam will not be assuming office

until October the 1st much is being made

of the fact that Mexico has chosen a

woman to lead it and indeed uh the the

choice on the ballot was between the two

women what does that tell us if anything

about where a country with such a

reputation for machoness um is now

well I think that certainly uh it's it's

critically important that this glass

ceiling has been broken in Mexico I I

joke with my American friends here in DC

that we've broken that glass ceiling

before they've done um but it doesn't uh

uh it doesn't make uh the big challenge

of uh domestic violence gender parity

issues and more importantly femicides

which have been going through the roof

these last years go away the the all for

Mexico's first female president is that

now she will have to walk the walk and

and and really move the needle on these

issues which still profoundly affect

women in Mexico today good talking to

you thank you for guiding us through

that Ur sarukhan from sarukhan and

Associates joining me now is H kppa Sant

Maria assistant professor of history and

international Affairs at Georgetown or

George Washington excuse me University

so so much's being made about the fact

that Mexico now has a woman president is

this a Triumph for Mexican

feminism absolutely uh I think we we do

need to H put the victory of climan and

the fact that the second strongest

candidate was also a woman soil Gales in

the context of the struggle and the and

the fight that feminist movement the

women's movement have puted forward for

decades in Mexico so I I do believe we

need to understand this in the context

of the of the feminist movement the

strength of the women's movement of

course that doesn't necessarily mean

that that the new elected president will

necessarily have a gender perspective in

in her policies but what we can be

hopeful about that so let's talk about

her agenda moving forward now as we

heard in the report there there has been

incredible violence in this election

campaign so what should she be doing or

what could she be doing to tackle the

problem of violence in Mexico

certainly uh security and violence are

definitely the top challenges in Mexico

or some of the most important things

affecting people in their everyday lives

uh including questions of homicides

femicides the killing of women because

of their of their gender disappearances

extortions robberies uh these are

all very very strong challenges um I

would say that you know what the new

coming president would have to do is

addressing the social and institutional

roots of violence and crime in Mexico so

far she has indicated a the willingness

to to do some of that by continuing with

some of the social programs of the

current presidency and also with

strengthening the prosecutor's office

and the capacity to investigate of the

institutions in Mexico uh however she

has also pledged to continue with the

militarization of public security which

has raised concerns

amongst human rights organizations Civil

Society organizations and also the

feminist

movement so it appears what you're

saying as we will see some of the

current policies continued but the

current and outgoing president Manuel

Lopez orador has largely avoided direct

confrontation with the drug cartels are

we likely to see a different tact from

the

president-elect yeah I would say that

the the the the policy and the approach

of the current government has been mixed

uh I know it has been very popular to to

say that his government promoted HW and

no bullets but actually if you look

closely at his actions the the military

have continued to participate in public

security functions there have been

confrontations in the on the ground with

with criminal groups the problem is that

it hasn't been a cohesive policy so I

think we will continue to see some of

these actions that unfortunately are not

very cohesive that on the one hand

promote the militarization of public

security they also promote like punitive

approaches to Crime uh and while at the

same time sort of like uh abandoning

certain areas or saying that they are

going to promote social programs but

those social programs so far don't don't

have haven't shown a successful results

so so I would say it's a very mixed uh

Legacy that Lopez orador leaves behind

and we're likely to see that with Shane

bound's

presidency that was hopa sentim from

George Washington University thank you

very much for your time and for your

analysis thank you