America

The day Mexico invested its first president

The succession has concluded. Starting this October 1, new hands direct the course of Mexico. For the first time in its history after 65 men, between civilians and military, a woman will take command of the National Palace. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, the first president of the Republic, received the presidential sash in the Chamber of Deputies this Tuesday amidst shouts and ovations. She has picked up the baton from the hands of Ifigenia Martínez, another woman, like her, a pioneer in politics.

Martínez’s 94 years prevented her from moving freely and, connected to an oxygen cylinder, she could barely speak, but the symbol was clear: a new era was born in Mexico, but heir to a decades-long struggle in which other women like Martínez they paved the way. Sheinbaum has repeated it since she won the elections on June 2 with an overwhelming majority: “I’m not here alone, we’re all here.” There was another privileged witness in San Lázaro: the former president of the Republic, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, mentor of Sheinbaum and his predecessor, not only in office, but as leader of Morena, the party that he created 10 years ago and that has raised both to power.

The shadow of López Obrador, a politician who has been an active part of the life of Mexico for the last four decades, is long. The big question raised by his critics is how much the omnipresence of the old leader, a wild, charismatic political animal with an acquired taste for the spotlight, will influence Sheinbaum. She has already announced that there will be continuity, but with some changes. The coming years will establish the meaning of that phrase.

After San Lázaro, Sheinbaum took her first mass bath as president in a Zócalo so overflowing that the police had to cut off access before the ceremony began. There were representatives from 105 countries and 23 international organizations, in addition to dozens of indigenous peoples, who played an important role in the investiture. The president has presented the 100 points that she will try to follow in her Government and has said goodbye promising to “always defend Mexico” and “praise love, truth, honesty and fraternity.” The country already has its president. Now it’s his turn to govern.