Madam President!

By: Elián Zidán

Foto: Instagram (@claudia_shein)

For the first time in 200 years of Mexico as a democratic republic, the title "Madam President" will be used. What seemed unimaginable in a country with such a deep history of "machismo" has now become reality: on June 2, Claudia Sheinbaum, the candidate from the party Morena and former mayor of Mexico City, became the first woman elected president, winning the election with a landslide.

This Tuesday, October 1st, will make history, as for the first time in North America, a woman will take office as president of a country. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, a 62-year-old engineer, scientist, academic, and politician, will be the one to carry forward Mexico’s so-called "Fourth Transformation."

For Sheinbaum, being "the first" is nothing new. Throughout her career, she has earned that title repeatedly. She was the first woman to earn a doctorate in energy engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), the first mayor of Tlalpan municipality, the first female mayor of Mexico City, and now, the first female president of the republic.

But this will not be an easy six years for this mother and grandmother. Mexico’s first female president takes office with monumental challenges that her predecessor and friend could not solve. The failed “hugs, not bullets” policy has left the country trapped in a spiral of insecurity and violence, including thousands of homicides and femicides. Poverty, public health, and migration are also major issues that continue to plague Mexico.

Moreover, Sheinbaum will not only have to contend with constant comparisons to López Obrador’s popularity but also with the ghosts of her past. The 26 deaths, including 19 children, in the collapse of the Colegio Rébsamen while she was the mayor of Tlalpan, the 26 dead and hundreds injured in the subway disaster, and the thousands who died during the COVID-19 pandemic when she was mayor of Mexico City.

Starting from scratch is practically impossible for Sheinbaum. Not only because she has been a key figure in her party, but also because she’s been at the side of her predecessor for over two decades. He personally chose her to succeed him as one of the “presidential candidates.”

Additionally, Sheinbaum takes office inheriting external conflicts, such as the diplomatic rift with Spain after deciding not to invite King Felipe VI to her inauguration. This not only strains the historic relationship between Mexico and Spain but also highlights the double standards at play in the National Palace. On one hand, Mexico demands apologies for atrocities committed more than 500 years ago, while on the other, invites dictators like Miguel Díaz-Canel, who continue to oppress their own people in the 21st century.

In an interview with CNN, Laura Chinchilla, the first female president of Costa Rica, pointed out that women in positions of power are often judged differently than men. For Claudia Sheinbaum, being "the first" female president could actually work to her advantage, as there is no historical figure in Mexico to compare her to.

As Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1651–1695) once said, "Foolish men who accuse women without reason…" In a way, Claudia Sheinbaum cannot be judged by the mistakes of the past 65 presidents Mexico has had since transitioning from an imperial system to a democratic republic.

It’s now up to Sheinbaum to prove that women can accomplish things that men haven’t been able to do. She must govern a deeply divided country, serve all Mexicans, and protect the interests of everyone, including her critics.

A six-year term may not be enough to show real change, but in about 2,191 days, when she hands over the reins of power, everything she did — and didn’t do — will be weighed. In the end, we’ll see if, after 200 years, the first female president of North America, with all the titles she holds, was able to make her own decisions, govern differently from the men before her, and, for better or worse, secure her place in the history books of Mexico.