By Lucy Adautin
Claudia Sheinbaum has emerged victorious in Mexico’s election, poised to become the nation’s first woman president, as confirmed by an official quick count.
The candidate from the ruling party secured between 58.3% and 60.7% of the vote, a lead deemed insurmountable based on a statistical sample provided by the country’s National Electoral Institute.
Her closest rival, opposition candidate Xochitl Galvez, a former mayor of Mexico City, garnered 26.6%-28.6% of the vote, while Jorge Alvarez Maynez received 9.9%-10.8%.
Speaking in front of a hotel in the capital, Morena candidate Sheinbaum declared: “I will become the first woman president of Mexico.”
She announced that her two opponents had called to concede her victory.
The 61-year-old scientist ran her campaign on maintaining the political trajectory set by her mentor, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who took office in 2018.
Sheinbaum committed to upholding his policies, including a universal pension for the elderly and a program that pays youths to participate in apprenticeships.
She stated: “We will dedicate public funds to continue the president’s social programs.”
Additionally, she promised a “friendly relationship” with the United States, emphasizing the defense of Mexicans residing there.
Balancing these welfare promises with a significant budget deficit and sluggish economic growth will be a challenge for her administration.
Mexico’s election, the largest in its history, saw more than 20,000 congressional and local positions contested, as reported by the National Electoral Institute.
However, it was also the bloodiest election in modern times, with 38 candidates assassinated before Sunday’s vote.
Sheinbaum has pledged to enhance security, although details remain sparse. Analysts noted that organized crime groups grew and intensified their influence during Lopez Obrador’s presidency.
The country’s constitution prohibits the re-election of the president.
