98 Million Voters, Over 20,000 Public Officials Elected
Both Leading Presidential Candidates Are Women
First Female President Expected in 200 Years of Constitutional History
The largest election in history in Mexico, in which about 20,000 public officials including the president are elected, began on the 2nd (local time). Attention is especially focused on the fact that both major presidential candidates are women.
CNN reported on the day, "More than 98 million voters are participating in Mexico's largest election ever to elect about 20,000 public officials," describing the local atmosphere. According to the National Electoral Institute of Mexico (INE), the total number of voters is 98,329,591, and 20,708 elected officials including the president, members of the upper and lower houses, governors, district heads, and local councilors will be chosen.
In this Mexican presidential election, which adopts a single six-year term system, Claudia Sheinbaum of the ruling left-wing National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), Sochitl Galvez of the right-wing opposition coalition, and Jorge Alvarez Maynez of the center-left Citizen Revolution Party are running.
With the winner expected to be either Sheinbaum or Galvez, both female candidates, this election is anticipated to be a historic one that will produce Mexico's first female president in 200 years of constitutional history. Various pre-election polls showed Sheinbaum leading the other two candidates by a relatively large margin. Local media such as El Universal and Reforma analyzed that Alvarez is relatively behind the two female candidates.
Sheinbaum, former mayor of Mexico City, promised to mostly inherit and develop the current administration's policies under Andr?s Manuel L?pez Obrador, including promoting moderate immigration policies, accelerating the transition to eco-friendly energy, and strengthening public enterprises. Galvez, a former senator, pledged support for the poor, restructuring of public enterprises in the energy sector, improving the police system, and stabilizing public security through the construction of large correctional facilities.
Mexico, where a male-dominated culture (Machismo) is strong, has rapidly elevated women's status by fully introducing gender quotas along with the 2019 constitutional amendment. A representative example is that the gender ratio of members in the upper and lower houses has become almost equal since 2018. Currently, the speakers of both houses are women. Additionally, last year, the first female Supreme Court chief justice was appointed, and in 2022, the first female governor of the central bank (Banxico) was appointed.
Meanwhile, ahead of this election, at least 25 candidates and party members in Mexico were attacked and killed by presumed gang members, causing bloody incidents across the country and unsettling citizens. The Mexican government announced that about 27,000 military personnel and national guard members were deployed around polling stations on the day. The election results are expected to be outlined around 1 to 2 p.m. on the 3rd, Korean time.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
