Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in as Mexico’s first lady president on Tuesday, vowing to bolster girls’s rights and guarantee Latin America’s No. 2 economic system stays a safe vacation spot for worldwide funding.
Sheinbaum, a 62-year-old scientist and former mayor of Mexico Metropolis, took the oath of workplace and acquired the presidential sash in a boisterous ceremony in Mexico’s Congress, which marks the beginning of her six-year time period.
“It’s time for transformation, it’s time for girls,” she mentioned, her voice rising with emotion.
“I’m a mom, a grandmother, a scientist and a lady of religion, and from immediately, by the need of the Mexican folks, the president,” she mentioned.
Sheinbaum additionally used her first speech as head of state to deal with investor issues after the passing of a sweeping judicial reform pushed by her predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
She reiterated that the central financial institution could be autonomous and advised buyers: “Relaxation assured that the investments of nationwide and overseas shareholders will likely be secure in our nation.”
Alberto Ramos, head of Goldman Sachs Latin American financial analysis, mentioned Sheinbaum will likely be judged on whether or not she will assemble “a predictable and investment-friendly coverage and regulatory framework.”
“Disciplined administration of the finances and of state-owned enterprises, progress on public safety, and safe-guarding the integrity of key establishments will likely be key to preserving market sentiment and sovereign debt scores,” Ramos mentioned, emphasizing the significance of heavily-indebted state oil firm Pemex.
Sheinbaum pledged that the Mexican oil large will look to keep up each day oil manufacturing at 1.8 million barrels, in step with present output.
The November presidential elections in the US, Mexico’s largest buying and selling companion, may add to market volatility, particularly if former President Donald Trump, who has vowed to extend tariffs on Mexican items, wins.
Sheinbaum’s authorities will current its first finances earlier than Nov. 15, which is anticipated to be extremely scrutinized for clues on whether or not she is going to make good on commitments to cut back the fiscal deficit to three.5% of gross home product from 5.9%, the place it’s predicted to shut the 12 months.
In a day speech within the capital’s historic Zocalo sq., she supplied 100 pledges, starting from increasing public healthcare and schooling to constructing 1 million new properties, capping costs for key items and sending Congress a bundle of reforms to battle gender violence and discrimination.
Sheinbaum mentioned she is going to unveil the bundle on Thursday, and mentioned it’s going to embody proposed modifications to the structure and search to cut back impunity and shield girls in a nation that information among the world’s highest femicide charges.
“Our information is the happiness and wellbeing of the folks,” she mentioned. “I pledge to you to maintain making historical past.”
CONTINUITY WITH CHANGE?
Lopez Obrador, whose six-year time period started in late 2018, managed to double Mexico’s minimal wage, cut back poverty and unemployment, broaden the bottom of social applications and oversee a earlier strengthening of the peso . Touting these successes boosted his reputation and helped usher Sheinbaum, his protégée, to a landslide victory within the June elections.
Mexican presidents are restricted to serving a single six-year time period.
Sheinbaum, nevertheless, who has promised “continuity with change,” will inherit the biggest finances deficit for the reason that Nineteen Eighties and lagging financial progress.
Specialists say Mexico’s economic system would require a tax reform to extend revenues, although Sheinbaum has for now dominated out a sweeping tax overhaul.
As a substitute, she has mentioned she is going to pursue different choices, together with bettering the effectivity of tax assortment at customs.
Sheinbaum “must ship an necessary fiscal consolidation if she desires to maintain the optimistic view that markets have immediately in the direction of her,” mentioned Bernardo Keiserman, an economist at funding financial institution Bradesco BBI.
“We consider the federal government is dedicated to an adjustment, however delivering one sizable sufficient shouldn’t be going to be a simple feat. The economic system is weaker and certain weakening additional,” mentioned Keiserman.
Just lately, the central financial institution minimize its GDP progress forecast for this 12 months to 1.5% from the earlier 2.4% and lowered its estimate for 2025 to 1.2%.
Nearshoring, the pattern of firms shifting manufacturing nearer to their principal market, has helped Mexico appeal to funding, however Sheinbaum will face a problem to extend overseas funding whereas implementing the judicial reform.
The judicial reform, underneath which judges will likely be elected by widespread vote, has scared buyers and drawn criticism from the US ambassador to Mexico, who mentioned it threatened the rule of legislation.
“I’ll govern for everybody and be assured that I’ll put my information, power, my historical past, and my life itself on the service of the folks and the nation,” mentioned Sheinbaum.
