HOUSTON — Claudia Sheinbaum, the first female president for Mexico was sworn in Tuesday.. She won the election in June, but what does her victory mean for us here in the U.S.?
She faces major challenges left by her mentor, the former president. Experts say the country’s economy is struggling, and violence remains high. If these issues aren’t addressed soon, more migrants could head to the U.S.
Sheinbaum, 62, is the first woman to put on the presidential sash in front of Mexican Congress in Mexico City.
"Its time to celebrate another glass ceiling broken," said Tony Payan, the executive director of the Center for U.S. Mexico Studies at Rice Baker Institute.
And that seems to be the sentiment for many Mexican women we caught up with at a Mexican bakery in southwest Houston.
"Esta de maravilla que por primera vez que se escuche la voz de las mujeres," Amilda Juarez said, a Mexican woman now living in Houston..
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Juarez said she's thrilled that women's voices will be heard, but political expert Tony Payan warns it's not all good news. The new president faces tough challenges ahead, especially on the financial front.
"She has 6 percent deficit and a growing international debt," he said. "The stalled economic growth, its going to be difficult to move any direction without serious policy changes."
Mexico's growth is also hindered by former President López Obrador's "Hugs, not bullets" policy, avoiding direct conflict with cartels despite rising violence. Experts say this could impact the U.S., pushing for more operations like the July arrest of drug lord El Mayo Zambada in El Paso.
"The arrest of El Mayo Zambada was one example frustrated with Mexico’s unwillingness to cooperate with the US. The us has chozen to go at it alone," Payan said.
Sheinbaum will serve a six-year term as Mexico’s president. First Lady Jill Biden attended today’s inauguration, and President Biden congratulated her, reaffirming his commitment to work with Mexico.