In a historic milestone for Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, the 62-year-old president-elect, is set to become the country’s first female president in its 200-year history. This achievement marks a significant shift in a nation traditionally dominated by male leadership. Sheinbaum intends to promote gender parity in her cabinet appointments, aiming for equal men and women. Nonetheless, she has also emphasized that her primary focus will be competence and expertise rather than just achieving gender balance.
Sheinbaum, who will take office this October, expressed her pride and excitement at a press conference yesterday after her election. At the event, she introduced Emilia Esther Calleja as her nominee to lead the state power firm Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) and expressed her enthusiasm about the announcement.
During a live-streamed press conference on YouTube, the president-elect highlighted that the nominee is an engineer who has advanced through the ranks to become a leading expert at the CFE. She is widely recognized among her peers for her exceptional leadership skills.
The local daily El Universal reported that Calleja will make history as the first female leader of the CFE since its establishment in August 1937.
The nominee for the chief executive emphasized, “It is an honor to be the first woman to hold this position.” She added that she would work to promote the growth of the CFE, which accounts for 54% of the national development sector, and ensure the supply of nationwide affordable electricity.
Sheinbaum, who holds a Ph.D. in energy engineering and previously served as the Minister of the Environment in Mexico City, stressed that the CFE will fulfill its commitment to transitioning to renewable energy. She also promised to change investment mechanisms to prevent the increasing debt, a chronic issue for the CFE.
Mexican media, including La Jornada, noted that Sheinbaum focuses on appointments, prioritizes competence and expertise, and goes beyond merely adhering to the constitutional principle of gender equality.
So far, Sheinbaum has announced 18 ministerial candidates, balancing the gender representation with nine men and nine women.
She appointed men to traditionally significant ministries like Finance, Economy, Foreign Affairs, and Public Security. Meanwhile, she chose women for crucial roles in the Energy, Environment, and Territorial Development ministries, overseeing major government projects in the upcoming administration.
According to La Jornada, the Science, Welfare, Culture, and Tourism ministries are also set to be led by women with years of experience in their respective fields.
As a candidate for Minister of Tourism, 35-year-old Josefina Rodríguez Zamora, the current Tourism Minister of Tlaxcala, is expected to make history as the youngest member of the cabinet.
Meanwhile, following the election of the first female president in Mexico’s history, a series of tragic incidents involving the assassination of female politicians have occurred. In early June, the female mayor of Cotija in Michoacán state and a female council member from Tixtla were both killed. These incidents occurred after Claudia Sheinbaum, the presidential candidate from the leftist ruling party, the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), marked a new history in Mexico with strong male chauvinism by being elected as the first female president.
Most Commented