This weekend is the historic election in Mexico. What you should know is as follows:
In a historic contest that could see a woman win the presidency for the first time, Mexicans will cast their ballots on June 2 to choose their next president.
Approximately 70,000 candidates are vying for over 20,000 positions, including the presidency, 128 senate seats, 500 deputy seats, Mexico City mayoralty, and governorships in Chiapas, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos, Puebla, Tabasco, Veracruz, and Yucatán.
The presidential candidates are as follows:
Claudia Sheinbaum
Sheinbaum, a 61-year-old climate scientist, was previously the mayor of Mexico City. She served as the environment secretary for Mexico City under Mayor Andrés Manuel López Obrador from 2000 to 2006, during which time he was her steadfast political ally.
Even though Sheinbaum has ruled as a secular leftist and hardly ever discusses her personal history in public, if she is elected, she will be the first Jewish woman president of Mexico.
Politically, her strong alliance with López Obrador has proven to be both advantageous and disadvantageous. Although Sheinbaum has stated that she is "not a close copy" of López Obrador, she doesn't hold back when praising the values they have in common—she even uses his catchphrases while out on the campaign road.
Even though Sheinbaum has ruled as a secular leftist and hardly ever discusses her personal history in public, if she is elected, she will be the first Jewish woman president of Mexico.
Politically, her strong alliance with López Obrador has proven to be both advantageous and disadvantageous. Although Sheinbaum has stated that she is "not a close copy" of López Obrador, she doesn't hold back when praising the values they have in common—she even uses his catchphrases while out on the campaign road.
(López Obrador, who told the media in February that he would "retire completely" after his term, has consistently denied rumors that he supports a candidate that he could influence.)
Sheinbaum has pledged, among her policies:
All older persons would continue to receive Lopez Obrador's pension; more than 12 million students will receive scholarships; small farm owners will receive free fertilizer; Regarding safety, she suggested uniting the National Guard, modifying the legal system, enhancing information gathering and investigation, and collaborating with law enforcement agencies.
Sheinbaum has pledged, among her policies:
All older persons would continue to receive Lopez Obrador's pension; more than 12 million students will receive scholarships; small farm owners will receive free fertilizer; Regarding safety, she suggested uniting the National Guard, modifying the legal system, enhancing information gathering and investigation, and collaborating with law enforcement agencies.
Xóchitl Gálvez
Supported by an opposition alliance of the PRI, PAN, and PRD parties in Mexico, Xóchitl Gálvez was a senator before acting as former President Vicente Fox's principal envoy for indigenous matters.
The 61-year-old, who is the daughter of a mixed-race mother and an indigenous father, worked as a businesswoman before going into politics.
Experts claim that Galvez's debut into the presidential contest has gathered remarkable traction for a relative newcomer.
The 61-year-old, who is the daughter of a mixed-race mother and an indigenous father, worked as a businesswoman before going into politics.
Experts claim that Galvez's debut into the presidential contest has gathered remarkable traction for a relative newcomer.
• Maintaining Lopez Obrador's pension for all older citizens; • Establishing a welfare system that is "universal" for middle-class and lower-class individuals.
• A security strategy that would bolster state and local law enforcement
• Earlier this year, Galvez made a suggestion that oil-rich Mexico needs to put more money into renewable energy, stating, "We haven't done it because we are dumbasses."
Jorge Álvarez Máynez
The two main concerns for each of the Mexican presidential contenders are immigration and security.
Jorge Álvarez Máynez entered the race late, but he gained international notice earlier this month when, during one of his campaign events in the northern city of San Pedro Garza García, a stage collapsed, killing nine and injuring at least 121.
The 38-year-old promised to
• Transition from drug prohibition to drug regulation by doing away with the crime of simple drug possession, which would end criminalizing poverty.
• Put an end to Mexico's long-standing militarization and instead concentrate on policing and police training.
• He has also suggested a phased economic transformation that includes progressive taxation, a guaranteed income and labor rights regime, and a universal pension system.
The 38-year-old promised to
• Transition from drug prohibition to drug regulation by doing away with the crime of simple drug possession, which would end criminalizing poverty.
• Put an end to Mexico's long-standing militarization and instead concentrate on policing and police training.
• He has also suggested a phased economic transformation that includes progressive taxation, a guaranteed income and labor rights regime, and a universal pension system.
In addition, Máynez has advocated for the closure of some refineries and the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and Pemex to be replaced by clean energy and renewable energy firms.
The main problems are: Migration and security
The main problems are: Migration and security
The two main concerns for each of the Mexican presidential contenders are immigration and security.
There have been numerous assassination attempts and other acts of political violence during the election campaign. Now that campaigns have already cooled off due to attacks, there are worries. According to political parties and analysts, some candidates have withdrawn their candidacies out of fear for their lives.
However, with extremely high rates of crime and homicide, Mexico has a larger security challenge than merely electoral violence. 160,594 killings were reported in the first four and a half years of López Obrador's presidency, more than during the previous government.
However, with extremely high rates of crime and homicide, Mexico has a larger security challenge than merely electoral violence. 160,594 killings were reported in the first four and a half years of López Obrador's presidency, more than during the previous government.
Nonetheless, there is cause for hope according to a report from the Institute for Economy and Peace (IEP) on the Mexican Peace Index (MPI), which shows improvements in five important categories: homicides, violent crimes, violent crimes feared, violent crimes committed with firearms, and violent crimes. The May 2024 report states that firearm-related crimes and homicides peaked in 2019 and have subsequently decreased.
In the meantime, tensions are building along Mexico's northern and southern borders.
In the meantime, tensions are building along Mexico's northern and southern borders.
The National Migration Institute (INM) reported that the number of migrant arrivals in 2023 increased by 77% over 2022. Furthermore, Mexico will face foreign migration policies in addition to the influx of migrants and asylum seekers entering and exiting its own territory.
For instance, a recent Texas state law that has already created a stir in Mexico is cited by Myriam Guadalupe Castro Yáñez, an academic at the National School of Social Work of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
Governor Greg Abbott of Texas signed a bill in December that gave state authorities the authority to hold and deport anyone they believe to be illegal immigrants. Although the bill is still being halted by a US federal court, the government of López Obrador has issued a warning, stating that it will only talk about immigration matters with Washington and will not accept anyone who have been deported by Texas.
For instance, a recent Texas state law that has already created a stir in Mexico is cited by Myriam Guadalupe Castro Yáñez, an academic at the National School of Social Work of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
Governor Greg Abbott of Texas signed a bill in December that gave state authorities the authority to hold and deport anyone they believe to be illegal immigrants. Although the bill is still being halted by a US federal court, the government of López Obrador has issued a warning, stating that it will only talk about immigration matters with Washington and will not accept anyone who have been deported by Texas.
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