Claudia Sheinbaum Becomes Mexico's First Female President
2024-06-04
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1Election officials in Mexico say Claudia Sheinbaum will become the country's first female president.
2Sheinbaum won a large victory in Sunday's election after promising to continue the policies of outgoing leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
3In early results, Sheinbaum received between 58 percent and 61 percent of votes.
4It is the most support won by a candidate in a Mexican presidential election since the end of one-party rule in 2000.
5Sheinbaum thanked Lopez Obrador in a speech she gave after the results became clear.
6She called him "an exceptional, unique man who has transformed Mexico for the better."
7Lopez Obrador doubled the minimum wage, reduced poverty, and oversaw a strengthening peso and low levels of unemployment.
8His popularity helped Sheinbaum to victory in the election.
9But experts believe Sheinbaum will find it difficult to follow in his footsteps.
10Her victory is a big change for Mexico, a country known for its masculine culture.
11Also, the country is home to the world's second biggest Roman Catholic population, which has supported traditional values and roles for women.
12In addition to that, Sheinbaum will be the first Jewish person to lead the country.
13Her main opponent, Xochitl Galvez, admitted defeat after receiving 27 to 29 percent of the vote.
14The 61-year-old Sheinbaum will take office on October 1.
15The politician is the first woman to win a general election in the United States, Mexico or Canada.
16Mexico joins Latin American countries like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama that all voted women to the highest office.
17Sheinbaum has promised to expand the welfare policies that helped make Lopez Obrador popular and that aided her victory.
18However, Mexico now has a large budget deficit and low economic growth.
19Her policy goals will be helped by strong support in Congress.
20Early results show her ruling party called Morena and its allies might gain a supermajority in both houses of Congress.
21Mexico's high levels of violence will be one of her most immediate difficulties after she takes office.
22She has promised to improve security but has given few details.
23The 2024 election was the most violent in Mexico's modern history.
24Thirty-eight candidates were murdered.
25Many experts say organized crime groups expanded and deepened their power during Lopez Obrador's term.
26More people have been killed during Lopez Obrador's term in office than during any other administration in Mexico's modern history.
27The number is over 185,000. Supporters say the rate has been slowly decreasing.
28Sheinbaum's training is in science.
29She has a doctoral degree in energy engineering.
30She was among the members of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore.
31In 2023, Sheinbaum told The Associated Press, "I believe in science."
32Observers said that belief showed itself when Sheinbaum was mayor of Mexico City during the COVID-19 pandemic.
33The city of 9 million people did not follow what Lopez Obrador did at the national level.
34While the federal government did not place importance on coronavirus testing, Mexico City expanded testing.
35Sheinbaum set limits on businesses' hours and capacity when the virus was rapidly spreading.
36Lopez Obrador wanted to avoid any measures that would hurt the economy.
37She also publicly wore face coverings and urged social distancing while the president was still appearing in crowds.
38Sheinbaum has praised Lopez Obrador and said little that the president has not said himself.
39She blamed what some call neoliberal economic policies for ensuring that millions of people remain poor.
40She promised a strong welfare state.
41She also praised Mexico's large state-owned oil company, Pemex, while also promising to push clean energy.
42Sheinbaum has rejected opposition claims that she would be a "puppet" of Lopez Obrador.
43But she has promised to continue his policies including those that target Mexico's poor.
44Jason Marczak is with the Atlantic Council's Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center.
45He said: "There is an expectation that she will continue the policies of Lopez Obrador, but also become her own president at the same time."
46I'm Dan Novak.
1Election officials in Mexico say Claudia Sheinbaum will become the country's first female president. 2Sheinbaum won a large victory in Sunday's election after promising to continue the policies of outgoing leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. 3In early results, Sheinbaum received between 58 percent and 61 percent of votes. It is the most support won by a candidate in a Mexican presidential election since the end of one-party rule in 2000. 4Sheinbaum thanked Lopez Obrador in a speech she gave after the results became clear. She called him "an exceptional, unique man who has transformed Mexico for the better." 5Lopez Obrador doubled the minimum wage, reduced poverty, and oversaw a strengthening peso and low levels of unemployment. His popularity helped Sheinbaum to victory in the election. But experts believe Sheinbaum will find it difficult to follow in his footsteps. 6Her victory is a big change for Mexico, a country known for its masculine culture. Also, the country is home to the world's second biggest Roman Catholic population, which has supported traditional values and roles for women. In addition to that, Sheinbaum will be the first Jewish person to lead the country. 7Her main opponent, Xochitl Galvez, admitted defeat after receiving 27 to 29 percent of the vote. 8The 61-year-old Sheinbaum will take office on October 1. The politician is the first woman to win a general election in the United States, Mexico or Canada. Mexico joins Latin American countries like Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama that all voted women to the highest office. 9Sheinbaum has promised to expand the welfare policies that helped make Lopez Obrador popular and that aided her victory. However, Mexico now has a large budget deficit and low economic growth. 10Her policy goals will be helped by strong support in Congress. Early results show her ruling party called Morena and its allies might gain a supermajority in both houses of Congress. 11Mexico's high levels of violence will be one of her most immediate difficulties after she takes office. She has promised to improve security but has given few details. 12The 2024 election was the most violent in Mexico's modern history. Thirty-eight candidates were murdered. Many experts say organized crime groups expanded and deepened their power during Lopez Obrador's term. 13More people have been killed during Lopez Obrador's term in office than during any other administration in Mexico's modern history. The number is over 185,000. Supporters say the rate has been slowly decreasing. 14Sheinbaum's training is in science. She has a doctoral degree in energy engineering. She was among the members of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore. In 2023, Sheinbaum told The Associated Press, "I believe in science." 15Observers said that belief showed itself when Sheinbaum was mayor of Mexico City during the COVID-19 pandemic. The city of 9 million people did not follow what Lopez Obrador did at the national level. 16While the federal government did not place importance on coronavirus testing, Mexico City expanded testing. Sheinbaum set limits on businesses' hours and capacity when the virus was rapidly spreading. Lopez Obrador wanted to avoid any measures that would hurt the economy. She also publicly wore face coverings and urged social distancing while the president was still appearing in crowds. 17Sheinbaum has praised Lopez Obrador and said little that the president has not said himself. She blamed what some call neoliberal economic policies for ensuring that millions of people remain poor. She promised a strong welfare state. She also praised Mexico's large state-owned oil company, Pemex, while also promising to push clean energy. 18Sheinbaum has rejected opposition claims that she would be a "puppet" of Lopez Obrador. But she has promised to continue his policies including those that target Mexico's poor. 19Jason Marczak is with the Atlantic Council's Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center. He said: "There is an expectation that she will continue the policies of Lopez Obrador, but also become her own president at the same time." 20I'm Dan Novak. 21Dan Novak adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on reporting by The Associated Press and Reuters. 22_____________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24exceptional - adj. unusual, getting attention 25unique - adj. one-of-a-kind; unlike any other 26masculine - adj. relating to the qualities that men have 27role - n. the part that a person plays in an activity or organization 28welfare - n. a set of government policies that spend money to provide the poor, the old, and children with things like food, health care and money 29doctoral degree (Ph.D.) -n. the highest degree given at a university 30capacity - n. relating to the ability to hold or contain something; for example, the number of people that a building can safely hold in a certain situation 31puppet -n. a toy that is controlled by its operator; a person who is controlled by someone else