By -Aparaajita Pandey

As Mexico votes for a new President, it has become clear that the Mexican voters have decided that they want a Scientist, Engineer, and the former mayor of Mexico City who also happens to be Jewish and a woman to become the new President. The combination of such adjectives is seldom seen in politicians especially when they are all being used to describe just one person. Claudia Sheinbaum, a name that gives away her Jewish and European roots, is all set to become the Mexican President as Mexico votes for over 20,000 seats. Claudia much like her opponent, Xochitcl Galvez; a former senator and an entrepreneur both encouraged the voters to exercise their voting rights.

It has been clear for some time that the front runner in these elections was Claudia Sheinbaum. She has been a protégé of Lopez Obrador, the President of Mexico also fondly known as AMLO and belongs to the same coalition of parties called Morena. I had previously mentioned that Latin America tends to practice its own kind of anti – incumbency. AMLO had come up with a 20-point reformation plan earlier this year and Sheinbaum plans to continue with it once she comes into power. Her opponent had mentioned that if the plan was to see the light of Day it would pose serious threats to the democratic processes of the country. However, it seems that the populist policies of AMLO and the promises and rhetoric by Sheinbaum are working in her favour.

This election has been adequately marked by unprecedented events. Both the leading candidates are women. While one is of a Jewish lineage, the other belongs to the indigenous communities of Mexico. The one thing that has shocked the world was the possibility that has now become a reality; a woman President for a country as wrapped in Machismo as Mexico. While it is not unknown for Latin American countries to have women Presidents, Mexico has never had one. It also is a society that values Machismo intensely and men tend to hold more social capital than women by the virtue of being men. Mexico has also seen a rise in crimes against women, especially sexual assault. Domestic violence is common and the preference for a male child is ingrained in the social systems that have existed in the society for long. These social conditions are not the most thriving situations for women’s rise in politics.

However, this election has decided to be the one that beats all odds, as both the front running candidates were women and even Sheinbaum had not gathered the kind of approval that she has, the President would have been a woman. The new President should catalyse a change in the antiquated thought process of the society and ideally should also mean more spaces for women in society. It should manifest in women taking up more leadership positions and also an acceptance of such a change within the society at large. Perhaps, one could speculate that the Mexican voter picking two women as their top candidates are the reflection of the change in society.

The US on the other hand that claims to be a progressive, and more equitable society has not been able to become comfortable with the idea of a woman Head of State. However, the United States of America is yet to see a political race with women as front runners, who are seen as capable Presidential candidates and are judged on their ability to govern. These conversations would become more complicated if Donald Trump was to win the coming Presidential elections in November. His rhetoric for Mexicans, and women has not remained hidden from the world. Claudian Sheinbaum fits into neither.

There is also speculation about the beginnings of a Jewish lobby in Mexico. The Jewish lobby in the US has always had a strong presence in the country and plays an important role in the policy making processes, some speculate that one could see a similar lobby in Mexico, however, it would be at a much smaller scale.

While these questions, their answers would become apparent in the coming months.

Author has a PhD in Latin American Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University.

(Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal and do not reflect the official position or policy of Financial Express Online. Reproducing this content without permission is prohibited.)