Mexico: Who are Claudia Sheinbaum and Xochitl Galvez Ruiz, the two women vying for the presidency?

In June 2024, Mexico will undoubtedly have a president for the first time in its history. A strong symbol of this country, which the UN considers the most dangerous for women in Latin America. Because two candidates dominate the presidential race until the election verdict.

Claudia Sheinbaum, candidate from the ruling party

Head of the Mexico City government from 2018 to 2023, 61-year-old Claudia Sheinbaum is the candidate of the ruling left-nationalist National Regeneration Movement (Morena) party. “A pure product of the party of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador,” explains Jean-Louis Martin, a researcher at the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri).

The granddaughter of Jewish grandparents who left Bulgaria and Lithuania, she is a physicist by training and holds a doctorate in environmental sciences. The profile of a technocrat, which contradicts the profile of the outgoing president, is considered a political animal. “She has the profile of a hardworking, strict person, even if she is not always very easy in her human relationships,” analyzes Jean-Jacques Courlandsky, director of the Latin American Observatory of the Jean-Jaurès Foundation.

In her program, she defends her mentor’s economic achievements and promises “a tough government that will maintain financial and fiscal discipline.” Claudia Sheinbaum also calls for strengthening social programs, continued government investment in various regions, strengthening public education and the health care system, while continuing to raise the minimum wage “beyond inflation.” A committed environmentalist, she proposes, in particular, to accelerate the energy transition and promote policies to restore and protect natural resources.

Xochitl Galvez Ruiz, opponent

Standing before her is Xochitl Galvez Ruiz, 60, a business leader and politician who became a senator in 2018, from humble origins. Originally from Tepatepec, a city in the state of Hidalgo in central Mexico, the robotics engineer regularly emphasizes his Otomi heritage, particularly by wearing a hupil, a traditional blouse. Under the presidency of Vicente Fox (2000-2006), she headed the Commission on Indigenous Affairs.

She is the candidate of a coalition of three opposition parties, the Front Amplio, formed by the National Action Party (PAN), classified on the right, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which remained in power for 70 years, and the center-left Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). . An alliance with one common point – the desire to defeat Morena. “Gálvez’s campaign is more complex because the colors it wears have difficulty convincing Mexicans,” emphasizes Jean-Jacques Courland, who highlights the ideological differences between the three movements while maintaining uncertainty about the overall political program.

Xochitl Galvez Ruiz borrows from leftist themes, supporting the rights gained by the LGBTQ+ community and women. She also advocates social assistance such as tuition grants, although she is “very committed to free trade”. “My golden rule: no laziness, no cheats, no bastards,” she told AFP with forceful frankness.

Has the race already been won?

Mexicans will be called to the polls on June 2. But the battle seems won in advance. Claudia Sheinbaum, who is leading in the polls, is supported by the popularity of the outgoing president. “That’s the real question of this election: Will she be a supporter of López Obrador, who will retain power behind the scenes?” – asks Jean-Louis Martin. She will have to navigate between her own ideas, her personality and the outgoing president, who will retain control of the party and Congress.

To stand out, opponent Xochitl Galvez Ruiz does not hesitate to criticize the policies of the outgoing president. She has already said that she will fight “with her ovaries” against the violence rocking the country and against human trafficking, condemning the “weakness” of the current government. However, “we do not see a strong demand for increased security in this campaign,” notes Jean-Jacques Courlandsky. At the moment, social security takes priority.”

Another topic that could interfere in the presidential election and benefit the opposition posing as a “defender of democracy”: the issue of counter-forces, journalists or official bodies, regularly criticized by López Obrador. Tens of thousands of opponents demonstrated on Sunday to denounce the proposed constitutional overhaul sought by the head of state, who, among other things, plans to elect members of the judiciary by popular vote. Demonstrators fear that justice will prevail with the support of the ruling majority party and demand a “free vote.”