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Mexico's outgoing president says he will not try to influence Sheinbaum in naming future officials
From CNN's Abel Alvarado in Atlanta
Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said he will not influence newly elected president Claudia Sheinbaum in naming future officials for the country after Sunday’s landslide victory.
“She (Sheinbaum) is the one empowered to make all the decisions. I am not going to influence anything,” López Obrador said during his morning presser on Monday.
“She is going to choose her team,” he added.
However, he suggested that changes would come with the new president because it waspart of the “transformation” he started for the country when he took office nearly six years ago.
López Obrador also said he may discuss constitutional reforms with Sheinbaum during the transition period but made it clear that he didn’t “want to impose anything.”
Sheinbaum will take office on October 1. Her term will last six years.
López Obrador, who is Sheinbaum’s political mentor, congratulated her on the win.
“We already spoke yesterday (Sunday); I congratulated her.I am very happy because imagine what it means to hand over the presidency to a woman after 200 years of only men ruling Mexico,” the president said.
The president said that once he hands over the presidential band, he plans to retire from political life entirely and will do so with “a lot of satisfaction.”
“Let it be heard loud and clear:after I finish my term in office, I will retire, and I will never again participate in any public or political act,” he said.
Biden congratulates Sheinbaum for her historic win
US President Joe Biden congratulated Claudia Sheinbaum on her historic presidential win as Mexico's first woman to lead the country's government.
"I look forward to working closely with President-elect Sheinbaum in the spirit of partnership and friendship that reflects the enduring bonds between our two countries," he said in a statement Monday."I expressed our commitment to advancing the values and interests of both our nations to the benefit of our peoples."
Read Biden's full statement:
"I congratulate Claudia Sheinbaum on her historic election as the first woman President of Mexico.I look forward to working closely with President-elect Sheinbaum in the spirit of partnership and friendship that reflects the enduring bonds between our two countries.I expressed our commitment to advancing the values and interests of both our nations to the benefit of our peoples.I also congratulate the Mexican people for conducting a nationwide successful democratic electoral process involving races for more than 20,000 positions at the local, state, and federal levels."
Mexican peso falls against the US dollar
From CNN's Krystal Hur
The Mexican peso slipped roughly 3% against the US dollar Monday morning.
It comes after Claudia Sheinbaum's projected landslide victory, which has raised concerns that the ruling Morena party will be able to pass more ambitious constitutional reforms, many of which had been sought by outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
"Sheinbaum is perceived as more of a technocrat than AMLO, and she also has a background in climate science. Both offer potential shifts in Mexican policy," wrote Bespoke Investment Group researchers in a Monday note.
Latin American leaders celebrate Claudia Sheinbaum's projected win
From CNN's Abel Alvarado
Latin American leaders are celebrating Claudia Sheinbaum's projected win as Mexico's president with leaders referencing a common theme — that her appointment would hopefully see strengthened relationships between countries on the continent.
Sheinbaum willface several challenges, including security, organized crime, energy and immigration, and would also set the tone forthe pivotal US-Mexicobilateral relationship.
- Cuban PresidentMiguel Diaz-Canelsaid in a post on X: "We wish her success in her management, the first for a woman in that position."
- Honduran President Xiomara Castro extended her "sincere congratulations" to Sheinbaum, "as the first female president of Honduras" on X. Castro said she spoke to Sheinbaum following her victory and agreed "to work together for the unity of Latin America and the Caribbean."
- Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro called her win a "great victory for the Great Homeland. I hug you! Long live Mexico!"
- Bolivian President Luis Arce congratulated her on X and added that they "salute salute all the Mexican people for their democratic vocation and broad participation in the electoral process."
- Colombian President Gustavo Petro described Sheinbaum's appointment as "a triumph for the Mexican people and for their democracy."
- Costa Rica's presidency referred to the two countries as "brother countries" and congratulated Sheinbaum on her appointment.
Millions turn out for largest election in Mexico's history
From CNN's Tara Johnand CNN en Español
Sunday’s poll was the largest election in the country’s history. More than 98 million voters were registered to cast a ballot, and 1.4 million Mexicans were eligible to vote abroad.
In addition to the presidency, more than 20,000 positions were being contested by an estimated 70,000 candidates vying to become senators, mayors and governors.
But the elections were plagued byimmense violence. There have been more than 20 political killings since September, according to the Mexican government. By some estimates though, that number is even higher. According to Mexican consultancy firm Integralia, at least 34 candidates were murdered in the run-up to the vote.
Voting was suspended for several hours on Sunday in the southeastern Mexican town of Coyomeapan due to violence at the polling centers, according to state electoral authorities.
And while the murder rate fell in Mexicobetween 2019 and 2022, in absolute numbers the country is still reeling from historically high levels of around 30,000 homicides each year. The true number is likely higher, experts say.
The violence appeared to have been a top concern for voters as cartels extend their grip through Mexico.
Claudia Sheinbaum has been coy about her security proposals but has pointed to her record as Mexico City mayor, when, according to her team, she improved the police force’s working conditions and intelligence-gathering abilities.
The count: Mexico Elections 2024
Outgoing Mexican president congratulates Sheinbaum
From CNN's Mia Alberti
Mexico's President Andres Manuel López Obrador has congratulated Claudia Sheinbaum on her expected win in Sunday's presidential election.
"With all my affection and respect I congratulate Claudia Sheinbaum who came out victorious with an ample margin. She will be the first (female) President of Mexico... but also the President, possibly, with most votes obtained in all of the history of our country," he said in a video posted on X.
López Obrador also congratulated the other presidential candidates and the Mexican people, saying he was proud of the large turnout.
Mexico's expected president Sheinbaum pledges to govern all Mexicans "without distinction"
From CNN's Michael Rios
Claudia Sheinbaum has responded to the announcement of her projected victory in Mexico's presidential election early Monday morning, saying her administration would govern all Mexicans “without distinction,” even though not everyone supports her policies.
“Our duty is and will always be to look after every single Mexican without distinction. So even though many Mexicans do not fully agree with our project, we will have to walk in peace and harmony to continue building a fair and more prosperous Mexico,” she told supporters in a speech.
She also spoke about the historical significance of becoming the first female president of the country.
“I am also grateful because, for the first time in 200 years of the republic, I will become the first woman president of Mexico.”
Sheinbaum said her two rivals in the race, Xóchitl Gálvez and Jorge Álvarez Máynez, had called to congratulate her on her projected victory.
Sheinbaum, the candidate from the ruling party, received the most votes in Sunday's elections, according to preliminary results from the National Electoral Institute.
The Electoral Court must validate the presidential election, and if confirmed, Sheinbaum will start her presidency on October 1.
Sheinbaum's large margin shows power of Mexico's ruling party, CNN journalist says
From CNN's Kathleen Magramo
Even though Claudia Sheinbaum was expected to win during campaign polls, her large margin in the votes came as a shock, CNN’s Gustavo Valdes reports from Mexico City.
Sheinbaum might get up to 60% of the vote, which is even higher than outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador when he was elected six years ago, Valdes said.
Sheinbaum is the candidate for the ruling Morena party.
"That gives you an idea of thepolitical power that López Obrador has amassed over thepast six years," Valdes told CNN's Rosemary Church.
Valdes said voters told CNN that a woman president would help change Mexico's image of being a "macho" country, where patriarchal culture impedes women's advancements.
"Mexico has actuallychanged its laws toencourage and actually forcethe parties to have more femalecandidates. So so there's avery equal division of powerbetween many woman in congressand the governorships," Valdes said.
