Who is Claudia Sheinbaum? Everything about Mexico’s First Female President

Claudia Sheinbaum is a popular Mexican politician and scientist who was born on June 24, 1962, in Mexico City to a Jewish family. She has served as the first female mayor of Mexico City from 2018 to 2023.

Claudia Sheinbaum has recently been elected as the first female president of Mexico with a historic landslide victory in the Mexican presidential election. In this election, she defeated her main rival, businesswoman Xochitl Galvez, by 58% to 60% of the vote. She will replace outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on October 1.

Ms. Sheinbaum has a Ph.D in Energy Engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. She has also written more than 100 articles and two books on energy, environment, and sustainable development as a scientist and academician. Ms. Sheinbaum has made valuable contributions in the field of energy conservation, energy policy, and sustainable development.

Early Life, Education, and Family Background

Claudia Sheinbaum real name is Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo. She grew up in Mexico City, Mexico. Her parents, Annie Pardo Semo and Carlos Sheinbaum Yoselewitz were both scientists. Her mother, Annie, was a biologist and professor emeritus at the UNAM, while her father, Carlos, was a chemical engineer.

Ms. Sheinbaum’s paternal grandparents immigrated to Mexico City from Lithuania in the 1920s, while her maternal grandparents immigrated from Plovdiv, Bulgaria in the early 1940s to escape the Holocaust.

Ms. Sheinbaum earned a bachelor’s degree in physics from UNAM in 1989 and then a master’s and doctorate in energy engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in 1995. Her doctoral research was conducted at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California, where she analyzed energy consumption trends in Mexico and other industrialized countries.

She was a member of both the Sistema Nacional de Investigadores and the Mexican Academy of Sciences. She received the Best UNAM Young Researcher in Engineering and Technological Innovation Award in 1999.

Beginning Political Career

Ms. Sheinbaum’s political career began as a student leader at UNAM. She was a member of the Consejo Estudiantil Universitario, which later became a founding member of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) youth movement. She was involved in the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), founded by Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Ms. Sheinbaum served as Mexico City’s Secretary of Environment from 2000 to 2006, when Andrés Manuel López Obrador was Mexico City’s head of government.

Mayor of Mexico City (2018-2023)

Ms. Sheinbaum was first elected as Mayor of Mexico City in 2018 where she represented Morena. She was the first Jewish woman to be elected to this position. She served in this position from December 5, 2018, to October 16, 2023.

During her tenure as Mayor of Mexico City, Ms. Sheinbaum focused on various policy areas including crime reduction, environmental protection, education, and public transportation. She also launched initiatives to address environmental challenges, such as reducing air pollution, planting trees, and promoting sustainable energy sources.

She played a key role in managing Mexico City’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing measures to prevent the spread of the virus, and supporting the city’s healthcare system.

Post-Mayor Career

Ms. Sheinbaum is the first woman in Mexico to run for president on behalf of the National Regeneration Movement Party. She defeated her main rival, Xochitl Galvez, by 58-60% of the vote in the recent election held on Sunday. She is the first Mexican president of Jewish descent in American history who will replace outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in October.

Claudia Sheinbaum’s Personal Life

Claudia Sheinbaum has been married twice so far. Her first marriage was to Carlos Imaz Gispert, a prominent politician, in 1987, which lasted until 2016. They have a daughter, Mariana, who was born in 1988. Mariana is pursuing a doctorate in philosophy at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Sheinbaum’s current husband is Jesús María Tariba, whom she married in 2023. Tariba is a financial analyst who works at the Bank of Mexico. She has a stepson, Rodrigo.

Hobbies and Interest

Apart from politics, Ms. Sheinbaum loves playing the guitar. She is also a fan of the Pumas UNAM soccer team. It can be assumed from this that she is also fond of sports.

What is Claudia Sheinbaum’s relationship with Andrés Manuel López Obrador?

Claudia Sheinbaum has a long-standing relationship with Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), the current president of Mexico. She began her political career under AMLO’s administration in Mexico City, where she served as Minister of the Environment from 2000 to 2006. During this time, she played a key role in founding the Morena political party, which AMLO later led to victory in the 2018 presidential election.

Sheinbaum has consistently advocated for AMLO’s political agenda throughout her career, often campaigning on his behalf and embracing many key projects and policies. Her close relationship with AMLO has led some to criticize her as his “puppet”, but she has denied these claims, and emphasized her own political vision and governing style. In 2018, Sheinbaum became the first woman elected as Mexico City’s head of government.

Conclusion

Claudia Sheinbaum is a highly accomplished individual with expertise in both science and politics. Her educational background, scientific contributions, and political career have shaped her into a prominent figure in Mexico and an inspiration for women in politics. Sheinbaum’s focus on addressing social challenges such as crime reduction and environmental protection reflects her commitment to improving the lives of Mexican citizens. As the first female president, Ms. Sheinbaum is set to make a remarkable contribution to the country’s socio-political landscape.

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