Claudia Sheinbaum Sworn in as Mexico’s First Female President

New president of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum applauds after her speech to the Congress as part of the presidential inauguration in Mexico City on Oct. 1, 2024. Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images

Claudia Sheinbaum was officially sworn in as Mexico’s first female president on Oct. 1, nearly four months after the climate scientist and former Mexico City mayor won the country’s election.

The 62-year-old from the ruling Morena party took the oath of office and received the presidential sash during a ceremony in Mexico’s Congress, marking the start of her six-year term—Mexico’s constitution does not allow reelection.

Speaking during the ceremony, Sheinbaum promised a string of reforms, including expanding public health care and education, building 1 million new homes, and capping prices for key goods.

She also vowed to bolster women’s rights and combat high rates of violence against women and discrimination across the country by making changes to the constitution.

“It’s time for transformation, it’s time for women,” Sheinbaum said. “I’m a mother, a grandmother, a scientist, and a woman of faith, and from today, by the will of the Mexican people, the president.”

Sheinbaum also used the swearing-in ceremony to address investor concerns about a sweeping judicial reform pushed by her predecessor and political mentor, former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

That reform, which would see judges appointed via popular vote as opposed to via executive nomination, has sparked concerns among investors and drawn criticism from the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who said it threatened the rule of law.

“I‘ll govern for everyone and be assured that I’ll put my knowledge, strength, my history, and my life itself at the service of the people and the country,” Sheinbaum said.

Elsewhere, the newly sworn-in head of state said investors should “rest assured” that the investments of national and foreign shareholders in Mexico will remain safe.

Additionally, Sheinbaum said troubled state oil company Pemex will seek to maintain daily oil production at 1.8 million barrels, which is in line with the current output.

“We are going to promote energy efficiency and the transition toward renewable sources of energy,” she said.

Biden Welcomes Sheinbaum’s ‘Historic Inauguration’

Sheinbaum won Mexico’s elections on June 6 with almost 60 percent of the vote—roughly double the total for her nearest competitor, tech entrepreneur and former senator, Xóchitl Gálvez—to become the first female president in the country’s 200-year history.

The win also makes her the first person from a Jewish background to lead the overwhelmingly Catholic country.

However, Sheinbaum, who has promised “continuity” with Obrador’s popular social policies, is also set to inherit the largest budget deficit since the 1980s and annual headline inflation of 4.66 percent, as of early September.

For now, she has ruled out a sweeping tax overhaul recommended by experts and vowed to pursue other options, including improving the efficiency of tax collection at customs.

Sheinbaum’s government is expected to present its first budget before Nov. 15.

According to a statement from the White House, First Lady Jill Biden led a U.S. delegation to Sheinbaum’s inauguration ceremony along with senior leaders of the Biden administration.

President Joe Biden also extended his “heartfelt congratulations” to the newly sworn-in Mexican president.

“Jill and I wish President Sheinbaum a joyful celebration and a very successful presidency, and we congratulate the people of Mexico on the historic inauguration of their first woman president,” Biden said.

“Mexico and the United States are strong partners and close neighbors and we share deep political, economic, and cultural ties. The United States is committed to continuing to work with Mexico to deliver the democratic, prosperous, and secure future that the people of our two countries deserve.”

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.