"Mexico is poised to welcome its inaugural female president. But just who is Claudia Sheinbaum?"

 AA "Mexico is poised to welcome its inaugural female president. But just who is Claudia Sheinbaum?"

AA

AA Dubbed "la Doctora" for her illustrious academic background, Claudia Sheinbaum boasts a Ph.D. in energy engineering and is renowned as a physicist. Prior to her historic election as Mexico's first female president, Sheinbaum served as mayor of one of the globe's most densely populated cities and contributed to the United Nations panel of climate scientists, which earned a Nobel Peace Prize.

AA In her groundbreaking victory on Sunday, she not only clinched the presidency but also became the inaugural woman and the first Jewish individual to hold this esteemed office in Mexico. Securing approximately 60% of the vote in Mexico's largest-ever election, Sheinbaum shattered barriers in a predominantly Catholic nation characterized by deeply ingrained patriarchal norms.

A A At 61 years old, she is poised to succeed the incumbent President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, her longtime comrade whose progressive policies significantly ameliorated poverty levels in Mexico, bolstering their leftist Morena party's popularity.

AA Sheinbaum's commitment to inclusivity was evident in her early Monday address: "Our responsibility is, and will always be, to safeguard the well-being of every Mexican, irrespective of differences. Even amidst dissent, we must tread the path of peace and unity to foster a just and prosperous Mexico."

AA Born in 1962 in Mexico City to grandparents who fled Europe during the Holocaust, Sheinbaum's activism burgeoned during her undergraduate tenure at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where she vociferously opposed the privatization of public education. Subsequently, she pursued energy engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, earning a Master's degree and honing her proficiency in English before returning to UNAM for her doctoral studies.

AA Sheinbaum's political journey commenced in 2000 when she assumed the role of environment secretary under Obrador's stewardship of Mexico City's government. Following her tenure, she delved into energy research, contributing to the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and sharing in the Nobel Peace Prize accolade of 2007.

A A In 2015, Sheinbaum made history as the first female head of the Tlalpan district of Mexico City, holding office until 2017. The subsequent year, she ascended to the city government's helm, once more breaking gender barriers. Her tenure concluded in June 2023, paving the way for her presidential bid.

AA With two children and a grandchild, Sheinbaum shares her life with Jesús María Tarriba, her partner of many years whom she met during their physics studies at university. Tarriba presently serves as a financial risk specialist at the Bank of Mexico.

AA Had the constitution permitted it, Mexico would probably have seen Obrador re-elected, a rarity among politicians known by their initials alone, akin to JDR and JFK, simply as AMLO. Given the momentum of AMLO's popularity, there are doubts about Sheinbaum's ability to create ample distance from her longtime ally.

AA According to journalist Jorge Zepeda, one of Sheinbaum's biographers, once in office, Sheinbaum is expected to gradually unveil her own agenda. Initially, she will likely portray herself as the devoted disciple of her mentor, AMLO, before gradually revealing glimpses of her independent program, careful not to disrupt the movement's support base.

AA Zepeda also highlighted distinct disparities between the two leaders. In an article for the Spanish daily El Pais, he recounted querying Sheinbaum about what distinguishes her from other politicians. She responded, "I'm someone who makes decisions based on data."