The election “historical” of Claudia Sheinbaum, first president of Mexico, was greeted Monday by the partners of the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world undermined by violence, with a new municipal candidate assassinated.
At least 27 candidates in local elections, which were held at the same time as the presidential and legislative elections, were killed during the campaign, according to an AFP count.
The latest is Yonis Baños, candidate of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI, right) for mayor of Santo Domingo Armenta (south), killed at his home after the polling stations closed on Sunday evening, according to the authorities.
Claudia Sheinbaum, a 61-year-old scientist and former mayor of Mexico City, won a landslide victory with 58 to 60 percent of the vote, according to partial results from the National Electoral Institute (INE) for this one-round election.
The candidate of the ruling Movement for National Regeneration (Morena) beat former center-right senator Xochitl Galvez, who obtained between 26 and 28% of the vote. The centrist Jorge Alvarez collects between 9.9% and 10.8% of the votes, according to the INE.
Ms. Galvez, who admitted her defeat, however announced on Monday her intention to file ” appeal “ before the electoral authorities to denounce “an unequal competition against the entire state apparatus” who favored « to the candidate ».
Victoire “historical”
From Joe Biden to Vladimir Putin, the world hailed victory “historical” of the first woman elected president in the history of Mexico in 200 years, for a six-year term until 2030.
US President Joe Biden said he looked forward to working with her “in a spirit of partnership and friendship”.
Candidate Claudia Sheinbaum greets her supporters after her presidential victory, in Zocalo Square in Mexico City, June 3, 2024 / CARL DE SOUZA / AFP
Mexico is the United States’ largest trading partner. The two countries maintain an intense and complex bilateral relationship (migration, drug and arms trafficking).
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also congratulated Ms. Sheinbaum: “Our free trade agreement (editor’s note: with the United States and Mexico) is the envy of the whole world” et “I look forward to strengthening this relationship”.
In Europe, Russian President Vladimir Putin recalled that “Mexico has traditionally been a friendly partner of Russia in Latin America”.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wished that “Mexico can play a role in the overall effort to restore a just and lasting peace to Ukraine”.
French President Emmanuel Macron called the president-elect on Monday to congratulate her and offer her “work closely on major global challenges”namely climate change, and women’s rights, indicated the Elysée.
In a message published on X after the interview, Mr Macron said he ” happy “ from their first telephone exchange: “We will continue together the historic partnership between Mexico and France”.
In Latin America, Brazilian President Lula hailed victory “of a progressive woman”.
“I plan to travel to Mexico this year to strengthen our business relations”announced Lula, recalling that the two countries were the two largest economies in Latin America.
Worried markets
Ms. Sheinbaum will take office on October 1, taking over from the very popular outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
“It’s truly a historic event”declared Lopez Obrador Monday morning, confirming his withdrawal from political life.
Pedro Pardo / AFP
The ruling Morena party also won a qualified two-thirds majority in Congress and deputies, pending final results in the Senate.
The Mexican peso lost 4.3% to 17.7 per dollar Monday morning, and the stock market fell 6.01% at the close.
Markets are worried that Morena (left) “obtain the qualified majority in Congress, which allows the approval of constitutional changes in progress”Víctor Ceja, chief economist of the financial company Valmex, told AFP.
The elected candidate should declare “that we will not change the autonomy of the Central Bank”that there will be “fiscal discipline, and that we will not touch “the division of powers”according to Gabriela Siller, analyst at Banco Base.
Ms. Sheinbaum indicated on Monday that the current Secretary (Minister) of Finance, Rogelio Ramírez de la O, had agreed to stay in place.
“It is a great public servant who provides certainty of good financial and economic management”said the president-elect on X.
Narco-violence
The left-wing candidate wins the presidential election in Mexico / Gustavo IZUS, Gabriela VAZ, Guillermo RIVAS PACHECO / AFP
Granddaughter of Jews who fled Nazism and poverty in Lithuania and Bulgaria, Ms. Sheinbaum will have to take up the challenge of narco-violence.
The country records an average of more than 30,000 homicides per year, or around 80 per day.
Presidential election in Mexico / Gustavo IZUS, Gabriela VAZ / AFP
Violence became exponential from December 2006, when former President Felipe Calderon (2006-2012) took office, who launched an offensive against the cartels with the participation of the military.
Since then, Mexico has recorded some 450,000 homicides and 100,000 disappearances.
“We will lead Mexico on the path to peace and security”declared the president-elect, who also promised to fight violence against women in a country which has an average of ten feminicides per day, according to the UN.
