Pedro Báez
On Sunday, June 2, 2024, Mexicans went to the polls to elect a president, senators, governors, mayors, and other local officials. Mexico, a country that prides itself with machismo (masculinity) elected their first female leader. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo is the President-Elect of Mexico and will take office on October 1, 2024.
As a Mexican American who is both a feminist and a Jew, I take pride in this historical event. It means that for once a woman will take the helm of leadership and hopefully will make inroads into some of the country’s severest problems.
The first isn’t immigration, it’s the generations long problem of corruption. Known as “La Mordidta,” Mexico has long had this problem to get things done, you have to “give” something in order to get something. I know that some of my family members may take offense that I am washing Mexico’s linen in public. I’m sorry if they take this view, however as a journalist, I must be objective and truthful.
The second is the drug cartels that has taken over the country as the xartels under Pablo Escobar took over Columbia back in the 1980’s. During this past election many candidates were killed by many who suspect that the cartels were behind these assassinations. It will be interesting to see how Ms. Sheinbaum deals with this problem.
The third is immigration. It has long been a problem since the mid-80’s when terriorists and drug lords began the terrorism that has not only frighten people but made countries like Nicaragua, Venezuela, and El Salvador countries to avoid.
The fourth is climate change. In Mexico City alone, pollution is making it difficult to breathe clean air and with an altitude of 7,000 feet the pollution gets trapped in the atmosphere.
The fifth is the need for a hemispheric summit that will address many of the problems that have caused many of the problems that I have described.
In conclusion, I wish only the best for Ms, Sheinbaum and for Mexico. May God bless you on this difficult journey you’re about to undertake on October 1, 2024.
Pedro Baez is an author, columnist, and political activist. He is the Executive Producer of the Pacifica Radio Earl Ofari Hutchinson Show.