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Agence France-Presse

Claudia Sheinbaum was elected Mexico’s first woman president by a landslide on Sunday, making history in a country plagued by rampant criminal and gender-based violence.
Flag-waving supporters sang and danced to mariachi music in Mexico City’s main square celebrating the ruling party candidate’s victory.
“I want to thank millions of Mexican women and men who decided to vote for us on this historic day,” Sheinbaum told the cheering crowd.
“I won’t fail you,” the 61-year-old former Mexico City mayor vowed.

She thanked her main opposition rival Xochitl Galvez, who conceded defeat.
Sheinbaum, a scientist by training, won around 58-60 per cent of votes, according to preliminary official results from the National Electoral Institute, which estimated turnout at 60 per cent.
That was more than 30 percentage points ahead of Galvez, and some 50 percentage points ahead of the only man running, long-shot centrist Jorge Alvarez Maynez.
Voters had flocked to polling stations across the Latin American nation, despite sporadic violence in areas terrorised by ultra-violent drug cartels.
Thousands of troops were deployed to protect voters, following a particularly bloody electoral process that has seen more than two dozen aspiring local politicians murdered.
“Our society is violent, sexist, misogynistic and Dr Sheinbaum as president will really be able to help change not only the laws but society,” said Lol-Kin Castaneda, 48, who waited late into the night to hear the winner speak.
“Mexico can’t stand any more violence,” she added.
Women going to the polls had cheered the prospect of their favoured candidate breaking the highest political glass ceiling in a country where around 10 women or girls are murdered every day.

“A female president will be a transformation for this country, and we hope that she does more for women,” said Clemencia Hernandez, a 55-year-old cleaner in Mexico City.
“Many women are subjugated by their partners. They’re not allowed to leave home to work,” she said.
Daniela Perez, 30, said that having a woman president would be “something historic”, even though neither of the two main candidates was “totally feminist” in her view.
“We’ll have to see their positions on improving women’s rights, resolving the issue of femicides,” added the logistics company manager.
Nearly 100 million people were registered to vote in the world’s most populous Spanish-speaking country, home to 129 million people.
Sheinbaum owes much of her popularity to outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a fellow leftist and mentor who has an approval rating of more than 60 per cent but is only allowed to serve one term.

Lopez Obrador congratulated his ally with “all my affection and respect”.
As well as being the first woman to lead Mexico, “she is also the president with possibly the most votes obtained in the history of our country,” he said.
After casting her ballot, Sheinbaum revealed she had not voted for herself but for a 93-year-old veteran leftist, Ifigenia Martinez, in recognition of her struggle.
In a nation where politics, crime and corruption are closely entangled, drug cartels went to extreme lengths to ensure that their preferred candidates win.
Hours before polls opened, a local candidate was murdered in a violent western state, authorities said, joining at least 25 other political hopefuls killed this election season, according to official figures.
In the central Mexican state of Puebla, two people died after unknown persons attacked polling stations to steal papers.
Voting was suspended in two municipalities in the southern state of Chiapas because of violence.
Sheinbaum has pledged to continue the outgoing president’s controversial “hugs not bullets” strategy of tackling crime at its roots.
Galvez had vowed a tougher approach to cartel-related violence, declaring “hugs for criminals are over”.
More than 450,000 people have been murdered and tens of thousands have gone missing since the government deployed the army to fight drug trafficking in 2006.
The next president will also have to manage delicate relations with the neighbouring United States, in particular the vexed issues of cross-border drug smuggling and migration.
As well as choosing a new president, Mexicans voted for members of Congress, several state governors and myriad local officials – a total of more than 20,000 positions.


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Mexico

Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum wins in election landslide, makes history as country’s first woman president

Claudia Sheinbaum addresses supporters in Mexico City early Monday. Photo: Reuters


Supporters of Claudia Sheinbaum celebrate in Mexico City. Photo: Reuters

Xochitl Galvez and Claudia Sheinbaum voting in Mexico City. Photo: AFP

Claudia Sheinbaum owes much of her popularity to outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. Photo: dpa

Violence mars Mexico vote as country prepares to elect first woman president

Voters cast their ballots in Mexico City, Mexico on Sunday. Photo: AP

Claudia Sheinbaum, left, and Xochitl Galvez. Photo: AFP

Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his wife Beatriz Gutierrez Mueller. Photo: dpa

Bloodshed mars final day of campaigning for Mexico’s election

Supporters of presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum rally in Mexico City. Photo: AP

Mexico presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum. Photo: AFP

Mexico presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez. Photo: AP

Tragedy in Mexico as strong winds topple stage at campaign rally, 9 dead and dozens hurt

Part of the structure that collapsed at the campaign event. Photo: Reuters

Members of the Mexican army guard the area. Photo: AFP

Presidential candidate Jorge Alvarez Maynez. Photo: Reuters

News

World

Americas

Governing party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum wins in Mexico’s historic elections
Victory represents a major step for Mexico, which has never had a woman president


Claudia Sheinbaum was elected Mexico’s first woman president by a landslide, making history in a country plagued by rampant criminal and gender-based violence.


Women and gender

Gender

Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum wins in election landslide, makes history as country’s first woman president

Governing party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum wins in Mexico’s historic elections Victory represents a major step for Mexico, which has never had a woman president

Governing party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum wins in Mexico’s historic elections

Victory represents a major step for Mexico, which has never had a woman president