Adedokun Waliyu 
Claudia Sheinbaum is making history today as Mexico’s first female president, marking a significant milestone in the country’s history.
As she takes her oath of office, she’s introducing a new government logo that celebrates the aspirations of young girls, featuring a young Mexican woman proudly holding the national flag with a signature ponytail, reminiscent of Sheinbaum’s own style.
This achievement is especially remarkable in Latin America, where Mexico has traditionally been a socially conservative country, ruled by men for nearly two centuries.
Sheinbaum’s presidency breaks this mold, paving the way for future generations of women in leadership.
As the 66th president of Mexico, Sheinbaum, a scientist by profession, has authored over 100 articles and two books on energy, environment, and sustainable development.
As the former mayor of Mexico City, Sheinbaum has already demonstrated her leadership capabilities, particularly in areas like education and environmental policy.
According to Reuters, the former climate scientist steps out of her predecessor’s shadow to lead the world’s largest Spanish-speaking nation, Sheinbaum will also face doubts and opposition from critics alarmed by the outgoing president’s 11th-hour reform drive.
Enacted last month, the reforms included a judicial overhaul that will over the next three years replace all of the country’s judges with new jurists elected by popular vote.
“Our hard-won democracy will be transformed, for all practical purposes, into a one-party autocracy,” wrote former President Ernesto Zedillo in a Sunday guest essay for Britain’s Economist Magazine.
Critics of Lopez Obrador and Sheinbaum fear their ruling Morena party has too much power, and that democratic checks on executive power will be undermined.
She also makes history as the first president of Jewish heritage in the overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country.
Six years ago, she made history as Mexico City’s first elected woman mayor. Until she stepped down last year to run for president, Sheinbaum was known as a data-driven manager, winning plaudits for reducing the megacity’s homicide rate by half, by boosting security spending on an expanded police force with higher salaries.
She has pledged to replicate the strategy across Mexico, where drug cartels exert widespread influence.
