Claudia Sheinbaum address the people and celebrate 100 days as the President of Mexico. Photo: X.
On Sunday [January 12] morning Mexico City was presented with moody grey skies, light rain and a dreary eyed population, woken up at 2:30am the night before by the city’s earthquake alarm. However, this didn’t prove any obstacle for the 350,000 people that made it out to the Zocalo to see Claudia Sheinbaum address the people and celebrate 100 days as the Presidenta of Mexico.
The rally came at a time of strong momentum for Sheinbaum, having just hit a historical 80% approval rating and her perfectly sarcastic suggestion to Donald Trump to rename the United States ‘America Mexicana’ gathering significant internet attention. Such is her popularity at the moment that her approval rating even sits high amongst opposition voters.
#AlZócaloConClaudia
🚨 LLENO TOTAL EN EL ZÓCALO para festejar los 100 primeros días del Segundo Piso con nuestra Presidenta @ClaudiasheinNO le vayan a dar RT que le va a dar CHORRILLO a la fachiza que no tiene nada que celebrar… pic.twitter.com/ahLzClzLHR
— La Catrina Norteña (@catrina_nortena) January 12, 2025
Amongst the 350,000 people were visitors from all over Mexico, gathered in groups with flags to proudly represent where they’re from. Visitors from states historically neglected by the government such as Chiapas, Campeche and Tabasco showed out to show their unity with Sheinbaum and her political party, Morena.
Hoy celebramos 100 días históricos desde que México tiene a su primera Presidenta, marcando el inicio de una nueva era para nuestra nación. Este momento es el fruto de años de lucha y del esfuerzo de un Movimiento que siempre ha puesto al pueblo en el centro y un pueblo que se ha… pic.twitter.com/UzqgvXt6gx
— Morena (@PartidoMorenaMx) January 12, 2025
Throughout her hour-long speech Sheinbaum addressed the central role of empowering women in her presidency, outlined her policies and achievements so far and directly spoke to relations with the United States.
Particular moments stirred extra emotion for the crowd. For example, as Sheinbaum explained her decision to lower the pension age from 65 to 60 for women.
“They ask me, why only for women? And we say to them, it shouldn’t be like this. But who is it that mostly takes care of the children? Who is it that cares for the home? I repeat, it shouldn’t be like this. When has this work ever been recognised?
“Well, since there is a female president, for the first time, we’re going to recognise the work of Mexican women.”
[Video] caption: Sheinbaum on recognising the work of women in the home.
You could see tears welling in eyes as cheers erupted as Sheinbaum spoke of advances in the government’s new public health system.
“From February, seniors and people with disabilities will receive a monthly or bi-monthly visit from a healthcare worker to attend to, and prevent illnesses.”
Chants of “Pres-i-denta, Pres-i-denta” rang loud as Sheinbaum also mentioned that the government will be installing public pharmacies next to branches of its public banks, Bancos de Bienestar, so that people can easily access free medicine.
“From the middle of this year, along with Bancos de Bienestar, we will install pharmacies, so that you can go there for your free medicine and medications.”
[Photo] Caption: A notice placed outside my building in the south of Mexico City, informing people of free door-to-door health care services.
A defining moment of the speech came as Sheinbaum directly addressed the crucial role of Mexicans living in the United States, not just their contributions to their families in Mexico, but to the United States economy as well.
“The people of Mexico are honest, hard-working and brave, the women and men of Mexico know to always keep moving forward. We resist, but we never give up. There is the example of our sisters and brothers in the United States, who this year have sent almost $65 million to their families. But let it be heard well, and let it be heard loudly, they contributed even more to the United States economy. What they sent to Mexico is only 20% of what they left there, in consumptions, savings and taxes.
“Mexican workers work like no other in the United States, they’re amazing farm workers, construction workers, service workers, they are great scientists in the universities, they’re heroes of the country.”
[Video] Caption: The rousing end to Sheinbaum’s speech
So what has Sheinbaum achieved in her first 100 days in office?
With Morena’s supermajority in the senate and lower house, Sheinbaum has been able to move swiftly, amassing significant achievements through her first 100 days, as well as putting together plenty of promising proposals for the future.
As well as increasing funding for Mexico’s existing popular social programs, Sheinbaum has approved two new social programs.
The first is a universal scholarship for all public school students, offering financial support to all families with kids in public school, regardless of income level. This has the goal of preventing kids from leaving school due to economic hardships.
The second is the aforementioned reduction in the pension age for women from 65 to 60, women aged 63 and 64 have already begun receiving their pension cards.
Sheinbaum also signed a decree to create the Rosario Castellanos university, which will offer free education to 330,000 students across the country. She will also offer the first government support of the schools of the National Institute of Fine Arts and Literature in 40 years, as well as the schools of the National Institute of Anthropology and History, also promising to increase teachers salaries.
The president has been clear in her support of women, previously having ratified a constitutional reform for women, entrenching their rights in the constitution. Included in this are objectives to guarantee a women’s right to a life free of violence, get rid of the gender pay gap, ensure that public policy considers female perspectives, and increase gender parity in government departments.
This is amongst 15 other constitutional reforms approved by the government since Sheinbaum took over. The majority of these were proposed by previous president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (or AMLO), and then approved by the new Sheinbaum-led government.
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Among these are the much discussed judicial reform, a constitutional recognition of animal rights, a commitment that the minimum wage will always rise above inflation, a ban on fracking, a partial nationalisation of national energy services, a reformulated security strategy and more.
The reformed security strategy appears to have made an instant impact, with a 16.3% decrease in homicides, including a 26.5% decrease in those against women, a 19.7% decrease in gun injuries, and a 4.7% decrease in violent robberies from September to December.
The president also raised the minimum wage by 12% earlier this year, in total this equates to an 135% increase in purchasing power compared to when Morena took over in 2018.
In November the president signed The National Agreement for the Human Right to Water and Sustainability. This agreement aims to guarantee the human right of water, ensure water efficiency in industrial and agricultural activities, promote technological innovation in the treatment, reuse and purification of water, prevent pollution of rivers and other bodies of water, and more.
This is crucial in a country where the handover of water distribution to corporate entities has led to a situation where 57% of the population lack access to safe water, despite the fact that as of 2022, Mexico had the 11th highest water extraction per capita in the world.
[Photo] The people of Chimalhuacan from Estado of México cheering on their Presidenta
Another significant achievement, is a labor reform to give working rights to the 658,000 Mexicans that work for applications, such as driving or delivering for apps like Uber or Didi.
This grants accident insurance to every single application-based worker, as well as healthcare and other working-rights to the 272,000 of those workers that earn at least the minimum monthly wage with their chosen application service.
Dedicating 2025 as the year of the Indigenous women, Sheinbaum hasn’t faltered in her commitment. Sheinbaum recently announced a financial support program for Indigenous women and Afro-Mexican women who create artisanal crafts.
The investments in this program aim not just to promote and empower their craft, but also to legally protect their designs. Amongst this $24 million investment are initiatives to provide training, technical support, marketing and more for the Indigenous and Afro-Mexican women that create these artisanal products.
Sheinbaum also put into motion the creation of the Presidential Commission on Justice Plans and Regional Development for Indigenous and Afro-Mexican people. This commission will monitor the implementation of the constitutional decree, that offers Indigenous people the right to autonomy and their own regulatory systems, the right to preserve their culture, language and heritage, and the right to be consulted about government activities that could affect their life or environment.
[Image] Caption: Mexico City’s famous Zocalo filled with people
Furthermore, these constitutional reforms affecting Indigenous people are being translated into 68 different Indigenous languages to promote accessibility and understanding.
With her background in climate science, Sheinbaum brought with her big expectations to promote sustainability and renewable energy.
Sheinbaum delivered on these expectations by announcing that Mexico will be developing its own low-cost electric vehicles, branded Olinia.
There will be three vehicles designed, including a larger truck for deliveries and such. The starting price for the vehicles is estimated to be between $4500 and $7500, eliminating the cost barrier that most Mexicans have towards the purchase of electric vehicles.
Thanks to the AMLO’s nationalisation of lithium, Mexico will be able to create the car batteries using their own lithium.
Furthermore, Sheinbaum has announced a plan to have 45% of Mexico’s energy production come from renewable sources by 2030. She has also placed limits on oil production and has continuously reiterated her emphasis on scientific innovation in her administration, such as lithium extraction methods, use of artificial intelligence and more.
[Photo] Caption: Sheinbaum is prioritising sustainability for Mexico’s future
Another crucial move to reduce the country’s emission comes in the form of Sheinbaum’s plan to build more railway networks across the country, following the massive Tren Maya project undertaken by AMLO. Mexico’s railway network was privatised in 1999, and soon after, Mexico had nearly no passenger rail services. This makes mobility a serious problem for lots of Mexicans around the country, with the countries primary bus service ADO, frequently accused of – and proven of – predatory behaviours to monopolize and heighten bus fares.
Sheinbaum plans on building more than 3000 km of railway tracks in a bid to revive the country’s railway services, and reduce the emissions of cars.
The above provides a comprehensive, yet non-exhaustive list of Sheinbaum’s achievement as she continues moving Mexico in the direction of its ‘fourth transformation’. Sheinbaum’s sharp and smartly thought-out responses to Trump and negative United States media coverage have stolen many of the headlines of her presidency so far, and deservedly so, however the steps she has taken towards caring for the people of Mexico should not be forgotten.
Special for Orinoco Tribune by Tallis Marcus
