Mexico: The opposition party in Mexico has chosen a female senator as their candidate for the 2024 presidential race.
Ms. Xóchitl Gálvez, aged 60, is a computer engineer and entrepreneur. Her nomination increases the possibility of Mexico having its first female president. Ms. Claudia Sheinbaum, a former mayor of Mexico City, is seen as the leading candidate for the Morena party, which is led by leftist President Mr. Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Ms. Gálvez receives support from a three-party coalition that includes the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), which held significant political power in Mexico until 2000. As a child, she grew up in poverty and assisted her family in selling street food in the central state of Hidalgo.
The candidate relocated to Mexico City and earned a scholarship to pursue computer science studies. After graduating, she founded a successful tech company that later obtained government contracts. Ms. Gálvez is known for wearing indigenous attire, using everyday language, and frequently cycling around Mexico City. Her sharp wit and approachable personality resonate well with many working-class and young Mexicans.
Nonetheless, she faces challenging competition from President Mr. López Obrador’s party, which has an approval rating exceeding 60 percent. However, he cannot run next year as he is limited to a maximum six-year term.
Ms. Gálvez and the president have had numerous disagreements on various topics, such as the elevated levels of violence in Mexico. She has emphasized the importance of addressing organized crime and once remarked that “ovaries are needed” in this regard. In response, the president has accused her of representing the interests of the wealthy, the “oligarchs,” and “conservatives.”
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