The most promising candidate for Mexico’s presidential office, Claudia Sheinbaum, vacates the post as mayor of Mexico City. Almost a year before the election, the 60-year-old physicist announced her resignation effective Friday. She wants to fight for the nomination in the internal selection process of the presidential party. Her goal is to become the first female president of the Latin American country.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s left-wing nationalist movement, National Renewal (Morena), intends to announce the candidate’s name on September 6. The joint candidate of Morena and two allied parties is to be determined by then through a series of polls. According to a party decision, politicians who currently hold public office are to resign by Friday. Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard (63) had already vacated his post, and further resignations are to follow.
Mexico is the most populous Spanish-speaking country with 126 million people and the second largest economy in Latin America after Brazil. López Obrador, who after six years in office is not allowed to run again, is very popular with the population. Before the presidential election on June 2, 2024, his party is clearly in the lead.
