Claudia Sheinbaum Declared President-elect of Mexico

MEXICO CITY — Claudia Sheinbaum has been officially declared Mexico's President-elect, marking a historic moment as she becomes the first woman to hold the office. The announcement was made during a ceremony on Thursday, where Sheinbaum, the former mayor of Mexico City, received the legal ruling confirming her victory in the June 2 presidential election. The declaration had been delayed due to appeals lodged with the federal electoral tribunal, but Sheinbaum is set to be sworn in on October 1, a month earlier than the traditional December 1 ceremony, following a legislative decision to shorten the transition period. Sheinbaum, who won nearly 60% of the vote, has committed to continuing the policies of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who has been a significant influence on her political career. She emphasized her intention to uphold López Obrador's controversial "hugs, not bullets" strategy, which aims to address drug cartel violence through social programs rather than direct confrontation. Critics have pointed out that this approach has not effectively curbed the escalating drug-related violence in the country. Her main opponent, Xóchitl Gálvez, who received about half the votes of Sheinbaum, has accused López Obrador of leveraging his popularity to favor Sheinbaum's campaign. Despite these criticisms, Sheinbaum's victory represents a significant shift in Mexican politics, as she prepares to lead the country through a six-year term that will extend until 2030.