On August 15, Claudia Sheinbaum received her certificate as Mexico’s president-elect. After the official ceremony at the premises of the Electoral Tribunal, the first female president gave a speech at the Metropolitan Theater in Mexico City.
There she outlined the fundamental pillars of her next government, among them, her commitment to the continuity of the project of the current president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the reform of the Judicial Power, and a humanist approach to combat the violence originated from the so-called “War on Drugs”.
The reform of the judiciary is on its way
The judicial reform proposed by the government of AMLO remains one of the main topics on Mexico’s political agenda, especially after the series of forums and debates on the reform. In this regard, Dr. Sheinbaum stressed that such reform corresponds to the need to ensure a more transparent and accessible judicial system, free of corruption.
“Just as the president separated economic power from political power, it will now be time to separate [the judiciary] from economic power,” said Sheinbaum. Under this line, she reaffirmed the guarantee to the workers of the judiciary that their labor rights would not be affected, since this is a reform to achieve true independence and autonomy in this power.
Furthermore, she recalled that this reform was proposed by President López Obrador and is part of Plan C that she endorsed during her campaign for the Presidency of Mexico. For this reason, she pointed out, “the election of ministers, magistrates and judges is a popular mandate.”
Pacification of the country with a humanist approach
Another central theme of the speech was the fight against violence. Sheinbaum distanced herself from the false “War on Drugs” strategy implemented by previous administrations, promising to continue with the comprehensive and humane approach that has been applied during the current administration. This strategy, according to data from the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, has succeeded in reducing homicide rates, femicides, and the perception of violence by citizens.
As part and continuation of this strategy, the president-elect announced the implementation of crime prevention programs, strengthening artistic creation and sports, a system of care for women and the continuity of the zero impunity policy, because “we have as an essential belief that there can be no peace if there is no justice.”
She also stressed the importance of strengthening public security institutions and improving coordination between the different levels of government.
Continuity with López Obrador’s project
In her speech, Sheinbaum made it clear that her administration will not represent a rupture with López Obrador’s project, but rather a continuity and deepening of his policies. “What they would like is for there to be a demarcation that makes a difference, that criticizes him. I am not going to do it,” she declared and reaffirmed her loyalty and commitment to the principles of the Fourth Transformation.
In this same sense, the future president highlighted López Obrador’s achievements in areas such as the fight against corruption, the reduction of poverty and the expansion of social programs. For all of the above, Sheinbaum affirmed that “Andrés Manuel López Obrador is the best president there has ever been in history”.
This article was first published in Spanish at De Raíz.
