Mexico’s First Female President Emerges After Bloodiest Ever Election

Mexico has elected its first female President, Claudia Sheinbaum, in a historic election characterised by an unprecedented degree of violence and bloodletting.

61-year-old Sheinbaum emerges as a protégée of outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) under whose party she contested. Prior, she served as mayor of Mexico City from 2018 until 2023.

The general elections held on June 2 included the presidential election and elections into over 20,000 federal and local positions across the country.

However, this year’s electoral process was marred by a surge in violent attacks and assassinations targeting candidates. Between September 2023 and May 2024, an alarming tally of 38 candidates and potential candidates were murdered.

According to Integralia, a risk consultancy, 560 election-related violent incidents were recorded in the current election season. This is way above the previous high of 389 during the last presidential election.

Integral attributed the political killings primarily to cartels and other organised crime outfits who are desperate to eliminate unfriendly candidates, especially in the local elections.

In February 2024, two mayoral candidates were killed in Michoacan state. In April 2024, another two mayoral contenders were found dead on a single day. More than six were reportedly killed in the state of Guerrero.

Meanwhile, Sheinbaum’s main opposition, Xochitl Galvez, has conceded defeat after mustering just 28.1% of votes with 82% of the ballots counted so far.

Analysts perceive Sheinbaum as a puppet of the outgoing President. She has also promised to continue the welfare policies of Obrador’s government.

U.S. President Joe Biden has congratulated Sheinbaum on winning the “historic elections.”

I look forward to working closely with President-elect Sheinbaum in the spirit of partnership and friendship that reflects the enduring bonds between our two countries. I expressed our commitment to advancing the values and interests of both our nations to the benefit of our peoples,” Biden said in a statement.

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Oluwatobi Odeyinka

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