133-405: [REDACTED] Andrés Manuel López Obrador ( Spanish: [anˈdɾes maˈnwel ˈlopes oβɾaˈðoɾ] ; born 13 November 1953), also known by his initials AMLO , is a Mexican politician who served as the 65th president of Mexico from 2018 to 2024. He previously served as Head of Government of Mexico City from 2000 to 2005. Born in Tepetitán , in the municipality of Macuspana , in
266-418: A Christian , in the broadest sense of the word, because Christ is love and justice is love." López Obrador has held a variety of nicknames throughout his life, including El Molido , El Americano (The American), La Piedra (The Rock), El Comandante (The Commander), and the most popular among them is El Peje , named after the common Tabasco fish, the pejelagarto . A baseball fan, his favorite sportsteam
399-454: A left-wing populist , social democratic , and an economic nationalist , López Obrador has been a national politician for over three decades. During his presidency , he has promoted public investment in sectors that had been liberalized under previous administrations and has implemented several progressive social reforms. Supporters have praised him for promoting institutional renewal after decades of high inequality and corruption and refocusing
532-460: A MX$ 37 billion investment, temporarily closing portions of the line to replace tracks, acquire new trains, and implement a new control system. The Observatorio station was also closed to transform it into a mega terminal, connecting Metro Lines 1, 12, and El Insurgente . Sheinbaum expanded the Metrobús network by 33 kilometers across three of its lines. She also introduced electric buses to
665-647: A blockade of 12 kilometers of Paseo de la Reforma , one of the city's most important roads, which houses several hotels, corporate headquarters, and the Mexico City Stock Market . Business groups said the blockades cost Mexico City businesses in the area millions of pesos in losses. On 5 August, the TEPJF met in a public session to decide the outcome of the complaints the PRD and its coalition partners had filed. The seven magistrates voted unanimously to order
798-671: A choice later ratified by the Congress of Mexico City . Sheinbaum addressed security concerns through four key axes: addressing root causes, which was integrated with her education policy and included initiatives like the Rosario Castellanos Institute of Higher Studies [ es ] and the Pilares community centers; enhancing the quality and quantity of police forces; expanding intelligence and investigative capabilities; and improving coordination between
931-502: A complete account of the permits for the school's land use, construction, and operation. Enrique Fuentes, a lawyer representing the deceased children's parents, stated that the mayor had an obligation to take action but had failed to do so, allowing the school to continue operating. In August 2017, Sheinbaum participated in a poll by the National Regeneration Movement to determine the party's candidate for
1064-695: A degree in political science and public administration after the presentation of his thesis, Proceso de formación del Estado Nacional en México 1821-1867 (Formation Process of the National State in Mexico 1821–1867). He lived in the Casa del Estudiante Tabasco during his college years on Violeta Street in the Guerrero neighborhood of Mexico City. The institution was financed by the administration of Tabasco governor Mario Trujillo García through efforts of
1197-446: A dictator (because of PRI's party discipline), the current times show the president's power as somewhat limited. In 2004, President Fox threatened to veto the budget approved by Congress, claiming the budget overstepped his authority to lead the country, only to learn no branch of government had the power to veto a decree issued by another branch of government (although a different, non jurisprudence -setting ruling stated he could return
1330-405: A discreet life. This is partly because they do not want to interfere with the government of the new president and partly because they may not have a good public image. This tradition can be traced back to the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas . Former president Plutarco Elías Calles had personally selected Cárdenas as his successor, and had hoped to control things from behind the scenes as he had for
1463-506: A gunshot to the head. According to Jorge Zepeda Patterson's [ es ] Los Suspirantes 2018 , José Ramón found a pistol, played with it, and it slipped out of his hands, firing a bullet into his head. The Tabasco newspapers Rumbo Nuevo , Diario de Tabasco , and Diario Presente presented a story where they were both playing around with the pistol and that Andrés Manuel fired it by accident. According to Zepeda Patterson, Andrés Manuel became "taciturn, much more thoughtful" following
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#17327719923121596-430: A joint venture with billionaire businessman Carlos Slim Helú , a native of downtown Mexico City, to expropriate , restore, rebuild, and gentrify large parts of the area, creating shopping and residential areas for middle- and upper-income residents. López Obrador used fiscal policy to encourage private sector investment in housing. He granted construction firms tax breaks and liberalized zoning regulations, leading to
1729-468: A majority, and might actually be defeated. While the votes were being counted, the tabulation system mysteriously shut down. The government declared Salinas the winner, leading to allegations of electoral fraud. The 1997 federal congressional election saw the first opposition Chamber of Deputies ever, and the 2000 elections saw Vicente Fox of a PAN / PVEM alliance become the first opposition candidate to win an election since 1911. This historical defeat
1862-614: A manual recount of Sunday's extremely close vote." However, on 5 September 2006, the Federal Electoral Tribunal (TEPJF) ruled that the election was fair and that Calderón was the winner and would become president. In contesting the election, López Obrador and his coalition made several arguments: (a) that President Fox, the Consejo Coordinador Empresarial (CCE), a business interest group, and other organizations had illegally interfered in
1995-664: A master's degree in 1994 and a Ph.D. in 1995 in energy engineering . Sheinbaum completed the work for her Ph.D. thesis between 1991 and 1994 at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California . While working for the laboratory, she analyzed energy use in the Mexican transportation sector and published studies on the trends in Mexican building energy use. In 1995, she joined
2128-496: A new form of public transportation for the city. Construction on Lines 1 and 2 started in 2019, and both lines were inaugurated in 2021. Line 3 was proposed by Sheinbaum in 2021, and construction began that same year. Sheinbaum continued the expansion of Line 12 towards the Observatorio metro station , a project initiated by the previous administration. In 2022, she started the modernization of Mexico City Metro Line 1 with
2261-466: A new six-year environmental plan to reduce air pollution by 30%, plant 15 million trees, ban single-use plastics and promote recycling , build a new waste separation plant, provide water service to every home, construct 100 kilometers of trolleybus and metrobús -only corridors, and construct and install solar panels and water heaters. Sheinbaum introduced the Cablebús cable car system, becoming
2394-519: A popular figure on the Mexican left. In 2004, his state immunity from prosecution was removed after he refused to cease construction on land allegedly expropriated by his predecessor, Rosario Robles . This legal process lasted a year, ending with López Obrador maintaining his right to run for office. López Obrador was nominated as the presidential candidate for the Coalition for the Good of All during
2527-503: A private school in Tlalpan, collapsed during the 2017 Puebla earthquake , killing 19 children and seven adults. In September 2016, during Sheinbaum's term as mayor, the city's Institute for Administrative Verification had ruled that the school's building infringed zoning regulations and was built higher than was allowed and that the owner, Mónica García Villegas, had presented falsified documents. Sheinbaum faced criticism for not providing
2660-489: A private school in Tlalpan, during the 2017 Puebla earthquake . On 1 July 2018, Sheinbaum was elected to a six-year term as the Head of Government of Mexico City with 47.08% of the vote, defeating six other candidates. On 5 December 2018, Sheinbaum was inaugurated as Mexico City's head of government . She became the first female head of government and the first to come from a Jewish background. Sheinbaum's administration
2793-483: A recount of 11,839 ballot boxes in 155 districts (9.2% of the total) despite López Obrador's public demand for a total recount. The TEPJF based its decision for a partial recount on its finding that, despite publicly demanding a vote-by-vote general recount, López Obrador's party filed legal challenges for 71,000 polling stations (54%). Therefore, by law, the TEPJF found it could order a recount of only those 71,000 polling stations contested. The TEPJF ruled it could not order
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#17327719923122926-498: A recount of the votes not in controversy because "the certainty asked by the [López Obrador] Coalition is tied to the respect for the tallies certified by the citizens in the polling stations, not in controversy." President of Mexico The president of Mexico (Spanish: Presidente de México ), officially the president of the United Mexican States (Spanish: Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos ),
3059-459: A reform was made on Article 34 reordering the colors of the sash. A new sash was made putting the colors of the sash back to the previous order that was used from 1924 through 2009. In swearing-in ceremonies, the outgoing President turns in the sash to the current President of the Chamber of Deputies , who in turn gives it to the new president after the latter has sworn the oath of office. The sash
3192-623: A seat of power since the Aztec Empire , with the materials of the current building taken from the palace of the Aztec emperor Moctezuma II . The President also has the use of Chapultepec Castle , formerly the imperial palace of the Second Mexican Empire , then the official residence of Mexican presidents until 1934, when Lázaro Cárdenas established the presidential residence at Los Pinos . Andrés Manuel López Obrador moved
3325-448: A timely rescue effort. López Obrador's secretary of government, Alejandro Encinas , was criticized for declaring that the lynching should be understood as stemming from indigenous customary law ( usos y costumbres ). After a thorough investigation, López Obrador gave Ebrard a vote of confidence, despite a request from President Vicente Fox Quesada for him to be relieved of duty. Later, using his constitutional powers, Fox fired Ebrard. At
3458-432: A wider academic background. Although Presidents Calderón (2006–2012) and Peña Nieto (2012–2018) were both lawyers, President Fox (2000–2006) studied business administration, Andrés Manuel López Obrador , (2018-2024) studied political sciences and current President Claudia Sheinbaum studied physics. The presidential term was set at four years from 1821 to 1904, when President Porfirio Díaz extended it to six years for
3591-549: Is a Mexican politician, scientist, and academic who has been the 66th and current president of Mexico since 2024, becoming the first woman to hold the office. She previously served as Head of Government of Mexico City from 2018 to 2023. A scientist by profession, Sheinbaum received her Doctor of Philosophy in energy engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). She has authored over 100 articles and two books on energy,
3724-424: Is a cornerstone of Mexican politics). In fact, tradition called for the incumbent president to fade into the background during the campaign to elect their successor. This renewed command helped maintain party discipline and avoided the stagnation associated with a single person holding power for decades, prompting Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa to call Mexico's political system "the perfect dictatorship" since
3857-574: Is issued by Congress. The president's office may suggest a budget, but at the end of the day, it is Congress that decrees how to collect taxes and how to spend them. A Supreme Court ruling on Vicente Fox's veto of the 2004 budget suggests that the President may have the right to veto decrees from Congress. Since 1997, the Congress has been plural, usually with opposition parties having a majority. Major reforms (tax, energy) have to pass by Congress, and
3990-579: Is the St. Louis Cardinals . López Obrador was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2019 . On 24 January 2021, he announced that he had tested positive for COVID-19 . He joined the PRI in 1976 to support Carlos Pellicer 's campaign for a Senate seat for Tabasco. A year later, he headed the Indigenous People's Institute of Tabasco. In 1984, he relocated to Mexico City to work at
4123-530: Is the head of state and head of government of Mexico . Under the Constitution of Mexico , the president heads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander in chief of the Mexican Armed Forces . The office, which was first established by the federal Constitution of 1824 , is currently held by Claudia Sheinbaum , who was sworn-in on October 1, 2024. The office of
Andrés Manuel López Obrador - Misplaced Pages Continue
4256-693: Is the symbol of the Executive Federal Power, and may only be worn by the current President. According to Article 35 of the Law on the National Arms, Flag, and Anthem , the President must wear the sash at the swearing-in ceremony, when they make their annual State of the Union report to Congress, during the commemoration of the Grito de Dolores on 15 September of each year, and when they receive
4389-561: The 2006 elections , where he was narrowly defeated by the National Action Party (PAN) candidate Felipe Calderón . While the Federal Electoral Tribunal noted some irregularities, it denied López Obrador's request for a general recount, which sparked protests nationwide. In 2011, he founded Morena , a civil association and later political party. He was a candidate for the Progressive Movement coalition in
4522-583: The 2012 elections , won by the Commitment to Mexico coalition candidate Enrique Peña Nieto . In 2012, he left the PRD after protesting the party's signing of the Pact for Mexico and joined Morena. As part of the Juntos Haremos Historia coalition, López Obrador was elected president after a landslide victory in the 2018 general election . Described as being center-left , progressive ,
4655-562: The 2024 election . In September 2023, she secured the party's nomination over her closest opponent, former foreign secretary Marcelo Ebrard . In June 2024, Sheinbaum won the general election in a landslide against the National Action Party (PAN) candidate Xóchitl Gálvez . She assumed office on 1 October 2024. Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo was born on 24 June 1962 to a Mexican Jewish family in Mexico City . Her paternal Ashkenazi grandparents emigrated from Lithuania to Mexico City in
4788-677: The Attorney General 's Office asked Congress to strip López Obrador of his immunity under charges of a misdemeanor (ignoring a court order). The misdemeanor against López Obrador was his refusal to order the cessation of the construction of a private hospital on land expropriated by Rosario Robles (who preceded López Obrador as Head of Government of the Federal District under the Ernesto Zedillo government). Under federal law, any person with criminal charges during
4921-650: The Curitiba model, was built down Avenida Insurgentes , cutting through the city some 20 km from north to south. López Obrador's popularity diminished after the lynching of two federal law-enforcement officers performing an undercover investigation in Tláhuac in November 2004. The Mexico City Police rescued one agent, but the city's chief of police, Marcelo Ebrard , and federal Secretary of Public Safety , Ramón Martín Huerta , were both accused of not organizing
5054-598: The Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judicial Power ; after it has heard and ruled on them, the Tribunal must either declare the election invalid or certify the results of the elections in accordance to their rulings. Once the Tribunal declares the election valid, it issues a Constancia de Mayoría (English: Certificate of Plurality , lit. 'Certificate of Majority') to
5187-497: The Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) published its final tally, which had him down by a margin of 0.58%, or approximately 243,000 votes. López Obrador then initiated legal actions, claiming election irregularities in 54% of polling stations, and demanded a "vote by vote" recount in all polling stations. The Federal Electoral Tribunal (TEPJF) discussed the case and eventually dismissed it. The IFE called for
5320-577: The Hugo Chávez government. Some left-wing politicians and analysts criticized López Obrador for including in his close staff many former members of the PRI who fought against his party in the 1980s and 1990s, such as Arturo Núñez (one of the authors of Fobaproa contingency fund ), Manuel Camacho Solís and Marcelo Ebrard . The guerrilla leader of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN), Subcomandante Marcos , said López Obrador
5453-632: The Jalisco New Generation Cartel , La Unión Tepito , and La Fuerza Anti-Unión, managing to arrest several of their members. Analysts viewed these actions as evidence of the effectiveness of the intelligence strategy led by Secretary of Citizen Safety Omar García Harfuch . Her administration's security strategy included the gradual deployment of the National Guard in Mexico City. While some experts believed that
Andrés Manuel López Obrador - Misplaced Pages Continue
5586-627: The Labor Party (PT) , and the Social Encounter Party (PES). On 29 April 2016, during Sheinbaum's tenure as mayor of Tlalpan , city staff were ordered to demolish a wall that had been built illegally adjacent to a chapel ( Capilla del Señor de los Trabajos ) in Tlalpan's Cultura Maya neighborhood. The workers instructed to demolish the wall also destroyed part of the chapel's structure, including its sheet metal roof, and removed religious images. Juan Guillermo Blandón Pérez,
5719-723: The Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). Sheinbaum served as the Secretary of the Environment of Mexico City from 5 December 2000 to 15 May 2006, appointed on 20 November 2000 to the cabinet of the Head of Government of Mexico City, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. During her term, which concluded in May 2006, she was responsible for constructing an electronic vehicle registration center for Mexico City. She also oversaw
5852-532: The Presidente Legitimo (Legitimate President), inaugurated him in a ceremony in the Zócalo and called for the creation of an alternative, parallel government. López Obrador announced his victory to his supporters on the night of the election, stating that exit polls declared he had won by 500,000 votes. He did not cite any polls at the time and later referenced Covarrubias and IMO. Several days later,
5985-768: The World Mayor Prize in 2021 in North America for her handling of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico . At around 10:22 p.m. on 3 May 2021, several girders, part of the tracks, and two wagons of Line 12 of the Mexico City Metro collapsed between the Olivos and Tezonco stations. The casualties were 26 dead, 80 injured, and five missing. Line 12 of the Metro was inaugurated on 30 October 2012 by
6118-425: The armed forces (typically the army ) or the law. President Manuel Ávila Camacho (1940–1946) was the last president to have been a career military officer. Most of his successors have been lawyers; in fact, all the presidents between 1958 and 1988 graduated from law school . Presidents Salinas (1988–1994) and Zedillo (1994–2000) were both trained as economists . Since the democratic transition, presidents have
6251-407: The 1917 Constitution, the president exercised nearly absolute control over the country. Much of this power came from the de facto monopoly status of the PRI. As mentioned above, they effectively chose their successor as president by personally nominating the PRI's candidate in the next election. In addition, the unwritten rules of the PRI allowed them to designate party officials and candidates all
6384-580: The 1920s. Her maternal Sephardic grandparents emigrated there from Sofia , Bulgaria , in the early 1940s to escape the Holocaust . Though raised secular , she celebrated the major Jewish holidays at her grandparents' homes. Both of her parents are scientists: her mother, Annie Pardo Cemo , is a biologist and professor emerita at the Faculty of Sciences at the National Autonomous University of Mexico , and her father, Carlos Sheinbaum Yoselevitz ,
6517-659: The Attorney General's Office, mayors, and the Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection. Her tenure witnessed the resignation and subsequent arrest warrant for Jesús Orta, former head of the Secretariat of Citizen Security, on corruption charges stemming from his time in the Federal Police ; the escape of three inmates from the Sinaloa Cartel ; and the femicide of Ingrid Escamilla . In
6650-457: The CCE had interfered in the elections by campaigning for Felipe Calderón, which is against electoral laws. The TEPJF determined that it was unfeasible to accurately evaluate the influence this interference had on the election results but estimated the impact of Fox's interference as insignificant. Similarly, the tribunal stated that it could not gauge the importance of CCE's interference. Consequently,
6783-598: The Constitution were published in the Official Journal of the Federation . The succession provisions have come into play only twice since the current constitution was enacted. In 1928, after the assassination of president-elect Álvaro Obregón , Congress appointed Emilio Portes Gil as Interim President; Portes Gil served in the position for 14 months while new elections were called. Pascual Ortiz Rubio
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#17327719923126916-422: The Constitution which include the following: A decree is a legislative instrument that has an expiration date and that is issued by one of the three branches of government. Congress may issue decrees, and the President may issue decrees as well. They have all the power of laws but cannot be changed by a power that did not issue them. They are very limited in their extent. One such decree is the federal budget, which
7049-469: The Court ruled that both interferences could not be considered a sufficient judicial cause to annul the election. In response to fraud allegations, the Court stated there was insufficient evidence to annul the election. López Obrador and his coalition had alleged irregularities in many polling stations and requested a national recount. Ultimately, the TEPJF, in a unanimous vote, ordered a recount of about 9% of
7182-456: The Federal District, López Obrador became one of the country's most recognizable politicians. He left office with an 84% approval rating, according to an opinion poll by Consulta Mitofsky. According to an article by Reforma newspaper , he kept 80% of the promises he made as a candidate. In September 2005, the PRD nominated López Obrador as presidential pre-candidate for the 2006 general election . Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas declined to participate in
7315-507: The Head of Government of Mexico City. The other contenders were Martí Batres , Mario Delgado , and Ricardo Monreal . Sheinbaum secured first place with 15.9% of the vote, beating her closest opponent, Batres, by 5.8 points. On 5 December 2017, Sheinbaum stepped down as mayor of Tlalpan to register her pre-candidacy. At her campaign launch on 1 April 2018, Sheinbaum prioritized fighting crime, stating that she would hold regular public hearings, publish reported crime statistics, and rely on
7448-459: The Interior for a period of up to sixty days until the President reassumes executive powers. As per Article 83, no person who has already served as president, whether elected, provisional, interim, or substitute, can be designated as provisional, interim, or substitute president. The designation of the Secretary of the Interior as the immediate successor dates to August 2012, when the changes to
7581-545: The Metro were increased, budget data showed fluctuations in the allocation of funds for different transportation systems between 2018 and 2023. Other infrastructure projects, such as the renovation of Mexico City Metro Line 1 , the extension of Mexico City Metro Line 12 to Observatorio , the construction of the Mexico-Toluca Interurban Train , and Line 3 of the Cablebús, remained incomplete at
7714-517: The Mexican poet of the same name . During afternoons, he helped his parents at the La Posadita store. López Obrador began middle school in Macuspana but finished it in the state capital of Villahermosa , where his family moved in the mid-1960s and opened a clothes and shoe store called Novedades Andrés . On 8 June 1969, when he was 15 years old, his brother José Ramón López Obrador died from
7847-403: The Mexico City government during his tenure as Head of Government of Mexico City . Together they have one son, Jesús Ernesto López Gutiérrez (born 2007). During his first presidential run, some news reports identified López Obrador as a Protestant ; in a television interview, he self-identified as Catholic . In March 2018, he declared, "When I am asked what religion I adhere to, I say that I am
7980-616: The National Consumers' Institute, a federal government agency. López Obrador resigned from his position with the government of Tabasco in 1988 to join the new dissenting left wing of the PRI, then called the Democratic Current, led by Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas . This movement formed the National Democratic Front and later became the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). In 1994, he ran for
8113-468: The PRD and joined López Obrador's splinter movement, Morena . She was mayor of the Tlalpan borough from 2015 to 2017. She was elected head of government of Mexico City in the 2018 election , where she ran a campaign that emphasized curbing crime and enforcing zoning laws . In June 2023, Sheinbaum resigned from her position as head of the city government to seek Morena 's presidential nomination in
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#17327719923128246-405: The PRI's presidential candidate, hinted at the possibility of an alliance with López Obrador to prevent National Action Party (PAN) candidate Felipe Calderón from winning the election after both parties criticized president Vicente Fox for what they saw as illegal support by the federal government for Calderón. A PRD spokesperson said both parties entered an information-sharing agreement regarding
8379-734: The Party of the Mexican Revolution and is now the Institutional Revolutionary Party . From then, the PRI ruled Mexico as a virtual one-party state until 1989, when Ernesto Ruffo Appel was elected the first state governor from an opposition party. Toward the end of their term, the incumbent president, in consultation with party leaders, selected the PRI's candidate in the next election in a procedure known as [el dedazo] Error: {{Lang}}: invalid parameter: |links= ( help ) ( transl. appointed by
8512-401: The Political Constitution of the United Mexican States and the laws that emanate from it, and to perform loyally and patriotically the office of President of the Republic which the people have conferred upon me, in all actions looking after the good and prosperity of the Union; and if I were not to do so, may the Nation demand it of me. Note that Article 83 of the mexican constitution states that
8645-402: The Security Council for guidance. She committed to generating 1 million jobs during her term, maintaining the universal pension for seniors, and expanding the Mexico City Metrobús system to connect the city's outskirts with the center. During the campaign period, Sheinbaum was accused by members of Por México al Frente of being culpable for the collapse of the Colegio Enrique Rébsamen,
8778-448: The Spanish newspaper El País criticized López Obrador for what it characterized as "extreme" verbal insults toward Mexican government institutions and President Vicente Fox . On 6 July 2006, the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) announced the final vote count in the 2006 presidential election , resulting in a narrow margin of 0.56 percentage points (243,934 votes) of victory for his opponent, Felipe Calderón . López Obrador appealed
8911-431: The United Nations and in the private sector, but outside of Mexico. It is speculated he lives in a self-imposed exile to avoid the hatred of some of his fellow members of the PRI for having acknowledged the PRI's defeat in the 2000 presidential election. Carlos Salinas de Gortari also lived in a self-imposed exile in Ireland, but returned to Mexico. He campaigned intensely to have his brother, Raúl Salinas , freed after he
9044-459: The United States and taught at the universities where they formerly studied: Zedillo at Yale University and Calderón at Harvard Kennedy School . Two former presidents, Vicente Fox and Andrés Manuel López Obrador, live in Mexico. As of September 2024, Carlos Salinas de Gortari lived in the United Kingdom and both Felipe Calderón and Enrique Peña Nieto lived in Spain. Claudia Sheinbaum Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo (born 24 June 1962)
9177-420: The WG3 (Mitigation) report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 4AR and, in 2013, a lead author for the chapter in the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report . During her time as a student at the National Autonomous University of Mexico , Sheinbaum was a member of the University Student Council ( Consejo Estudiantil Universitario ), a group of students that would become the founding youth movement of
9310-400: The addition of books in indigenous languages and the project of the Chontal ridge. In 1989, he joined the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD), becoming the party's 1994 candidate for Governor of Tabasco and national leader between 1996 and 1999. In 2000, he was elected Head of Government of Mexico City. During his tenure, his crime, infrastructure, and social spending policies made him
9443-525: The budget with observations). Upon taking office, the President raises their right arm to shoulder-level and takes the following oath: Protesto guardar y hacer guardar la Constitución Política de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos y las leyes que de ella emanen, y desempeñar leal y patrióticamente el cargo de Presidente de la República que el pueblo me ha conferido, mirando en todo por el bien y prosperidad de la Unión; y si así no lo hiciere que la Nación me lo demande . Translation: I affirm to follow and uphold
9576-532: The candidate who obtained a plurality . That candidate then becomes President-elect. The final decision is made in September, two months after the election. The 1917 Constitution borrowed heavily from the Constitution of the United States , providing for a clear separation of powers while giving the president wider powers than their American counterpart. For the first 71 years after the enactment of
9709-451: The candidates to refrain from proclaiming themselves as the winner, president-elect, or president until the final resolution. Both candidates disobeyed this call. In an interview with U.S. Spanish-language TV network Univision , López Obrador referred to himself as "President of Mexico." López Obrador held several gatherings in downtown Mexico City, with hundreds of thousands attending. On 31 July, as an act of civil disobedience, he organized
9842-547: The construction of more condominiums and office buildings during his tenure than during any other period in Mexico City's history . New high-density condos emerged in the upscale neighborhoods of Polanco and Lomas de Chapultepec . To improve traffic flow on the city's two main inner-city roads, Periférico and Viaducto, he added sections of second stories to the Anillo Periférico . He renovated about 10% of those roads. The Metrobús , an express bus service based on
9975-542: The construction of vehicular bridges to improve road connectivity. Three notable projects included the Cuemanco Bridge, which connected Periférico Oriente with Canal Nacional ; a new junction linking Circuito Interior with Eje 6 ; and Las Adelitas Bridge, which connected Circuito Interior with Gran Canal. Sheinbaum faced criticism for the management of the budget allocated to public transportation. Although she claimed that there were no cuts and that resources for
10108-455: The country's neoliberal consensus towards improving the state of the working class. Critics have claimed that he and his administration stumbled in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic and attempts to deal with drug cartels . He left office in September 2024, succeeded by Claudia Sheinbaum , and retired from electoral politics. López Obrador was born in Tepetitán , a small village in
10241-491: The decision made by Congress was widely unpopular, appeared on national television in April 2005, stating that the issue would not be pursued further. The controversy closed on a technicality, and López Obrador, despite the removal of immunity, was not prosecuted and thus remained eligible to participate in the 2006 presidential election . Weeks later, Attorney General Rafael Macedo de la Concha resigned. As Head of Government of
10374-417: The diplomatic credentials of accredited foreign ambassadors and ministers. They are also expected to wear it "in those official ceremonies of greatest solemnity". The sash is worn from right shoulder to left hip, and should be worn underneath the coat. The only exception is during the swearing-in ceremony, when it is worn over the coat so that the out-going president may easily take the sash off and drape it over
10507-425: The early 1980s when a grave economic crisis created discomfort both in the population and inside the party, and the president's power was no longer absolute but still impressive. An important characteristic of this system is that the new president was effectively chosen by the old one (since the PRI candidate was assured of election) but once they assumed power, the old one lost all power and influence ("no reelection"
10640-398: The electoral process would not be eligible to run in a presidential election. A legal process begun in 2004 would likely have continued during the presidential campaigns of 2006, ending López Obrador's presidential run. Although his political opponents argued he should be subject to the same judicial process as anyone else, newspaper editorials throughout the world charged that the desafuero
10773-493: The environment, and sustainable development . She contributed to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and, in 2018, was named one of BBC's 100 Women . In 1989, Sheinbaum joined the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD). From 2000 to 2006, Sheinbaum served as secretary of the environment in Mexico City under Andrés Manuel López Obrador , who was then head of government . In 2014, she left
10906-458: The faculty at the Institute of Engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). In 1999, she received the prize for being the best UNAM young researcher in engineering and technological innovation. In 2006, Sheinbaum returned to UNAM after a period in government and began publishing articles in scientific journals. In 2007, she contributed to the "Industry" chapter of
11039-542: The finger ). Until 1988, the PRI's candidate was virtually assured of election, winning by margins well over 70 percent of the vote. In 1988, the PRI ruptured and the dissidents formed the National Democratic Front with rival center-left parties (now the PRD ). Discontent with the PRI, and the popularity of the Front's candidate Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas led to worries that PRI candidate Carlos Salinas de Gortari would not come close to
11172-426: The first COVID-19 case in Mexico City was confirmed on 28 February 2020, Sheinbaum addressed the city, emphasizing that although the risk was low, the population needed to stay informed through official sources. On 19 March, Sheinbaum urged residents to stay at home to prevent the spread of infection. She also advised those with symptoms to text a hotline for guidance instead of going to hospitals to avoid overwhelming
11305-400: The first 52 months of her term, Mexico City saw 5,078 homicides, a figure higher than those recorded under the administrations of Andrés Manuel López Obrador , Marcelo Ebrard , and Miguel Ángel Mancera . Despite this, the homicide rate was reduced from 17.9 per 100,000 people in 2018 to 8.6 in 2022. In 2019, Sheinbaum declared a gender violence alert in Mexico City, responding directly to
11438-485: The first new university in Mexico City in three decades, the Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México . López Obrador hired former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani to craft a zero-tolerance policy that would help reduce crime in Mexico City. He directed the restoration and modernization of Mexico City's historic downtown , which has 16th- and 17th-century buildings and many tourist spaces. He led
11571-453: The first time in Mexico's history, and then again from 1917 to 1928 after a new constitution reversed the change made by Díaz in 1904. Finally, the presidential term was set at six years in 1928 and has remained unchanged since then. The president is elected by direct, popular, universal suffrage. Whoever wins a simple plurality of the national vote is elected; there is no runoff election . The former president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador ,
11704-526: The following requirements must be met: The ban on any sort of presidential re-election dates back to the aftermath of the Porfiriato and the Mexican Revolution , which erupted after Porfirio Díaz 's fraudulent victory on his seventh re-election in a row. It is so entrenched in Mexican politics that it has remained in place even as it was relaxed for other offices. In 2014, the constitution
11837-449: The governorship of Tabasco but lost to PRI candidate Roberto Madrazo . López Obrador gained national exposure as an advocate for the rights of indigenous people when, in 1996, he appeared on national TV drenched in blood following confrontations with police for blocking Pemex oil wells to defend the rights of local indigenous people impacted by pollution. He was president of the PRD from 2 August 1996 to 10 April 1999. On 2 July 2000, he
11970-426: The head of government of Mexico City, Marcelo Ebrard , and the president of Mexico, Felipe Calderón . Engineering flaws that had existed since before the line's inauguration became worse over time, necessitating maintenance repairs over the next three years, including an unprecedented closure of the line to re-shape some sections of tracks and to replace the rails; most of these improvements were carried out during
12103-492: The healthcare system. On 22 March, Sheinbaum announced the closure of commercial establishments, cultural venues, sports facilities, and religious spaces. López Obrador and Sheinbaum had differing views on using face masks: Sheinbaum encouraged Mexico City residents to wear face masks , while López Obrador frequently did not wear them in public. Sheinbaum was nominated by the City Mayors Foundation for
12236-481: The incident. López Obrador finished high school and, at age 19, went to Mexico City to study at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). He studied political science and public administration at the UNAM from 1973 to 1976. He returned to school to complete his education after having held several positions within the government of Tabasco and the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). In 1987, he received
12369-618: The incoming president (Article 36). In addition to the Presidential Sash, each president receives a Presidential Flag; the flag has imprinted the words Estados Unidos Mexicanos in golden letters and the national coat of arms also in gold. The official residence and workplace of the President is the National Palace , a building facing the Plaza de la Constitución ( Constitution Square ) in Mexico City . The site has been
12502-610: The internal elections when polls showed López Obrador as the clear favorite. Until March 2006, polls showed him as the presidential frontrunner; however, his numbers had declined by late April. An article published by La Crónica de Hoy in March 2006 said that Mexican Bolivarian Circles and students, allegedly assisted by Venezuelan agents, distributed " Bolivarian propaganda in favor of Andrés Manuel López Obrador" throughout cities in Mexico and that such groups were given "economic support, logistics advice and ideological instruction" from
12635-496: The introduction of the Metrobús , a bus rapid transit system with dedicated lanes, and the building of the second story of the Anillo Periférico , Mexico City's ring road . López Obrador included Sheinbaum in his proposed cabinet for the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources as part of his campaign for the 2012 presidential election . In 2014, she joined López Obrador's splinter movement, which broke away from
12768-526: The issue. This, combined with calls from high-ranking PRI member Manuel Bartlett (former Secretary of the Interior during the 1988 presidential election fraud) to vote for López Obrador, aroused media speculation that the PRI and the PRD would ally. On 28 May, after López Obrador discounted any such alliance because the PRI and PRD political tendencies could not be reconciled, Roberto Madrazo indicated that his comments were misunderstood and that he would not step down or endorse any other candidate. In 2006,
12901-497: The mainstream left-wing party, the Party of the Democratic Revolution. From the end of 2015, Sheinbaum served as the mayor of Tlalpan . She resigned from the position in 2017 upon receiving the nomination for the candidacy of the mayor of Mexico City for the Juntos Haremos Historia ( lit. ' Together We Will Make History ' ) coalition, consisting of the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA),
13034-421: The municipality of Macuspana , in the southern state of Tabasco , on 13 November 1953. He is the firstborn son of Andrés López Ramón (son of Lorenzo López and Beatriz Ramón) and Manuela Obrador González, Tabasco and Veracruz -based merchants. His younger siblings include José Ramón, José Ramiro, Pedro Arturo, Pío Lorenzo, and twins Candelaria Beatriz and Martín Jesús. His maternal grandfather José Obrador Revuelta
13167-424: The number of firearms held by civilians and thereby decreasing related crimes. The program allowed citizens to anonymously exchange their weapons, whether acquired legally or otherwise, for cash. Under her administration, the program, which cost about MX$ 40 million, managed to recover about 6,546 firearms, including 1,315 long guns . Sheinbaum's administration focused on dismantling criminal organizations such as
13300-429: The office of the president closely follow the presidential system of government. Chapter III of Title III of the Constitution deals with the executive branch of government and sets forth the powers of the president, as well as the qualifications for the office. The president is vested with the "Supreme Executive Power of the Union". To be eligible to serve as president, Article 82 of the Constitution specifies that
13433-508: The outcry over violence against women. This decision was accompanied by the creation of the SOS *765 hotline and the construction of 710 kilometers of safe pathways under the slogan "Walk Free, Walk Safe," designed to ensure women's safety as they move around the city. Sheinbaum promoted the Sí al Desarme, Sí a la Paz ( lit. ' Yes to Disarmament, Yes to Peace ' ) program aimed at reducing
13566-402: The parish priest, alleged that Sheinbaum was responsible for demolishing the chapel and claimed that it was carried out without prior notification. Days after the chapel's demolition, borough authorities acknowledged their error. Sheinbaum met with church representatives and proposed dividing the property in half to build a new chapel and a community art center. The Colegio Enrique Rébsamen,
13699-573: The poet Carlos Pellicer , with whom López Obrador began discussing. There was empathy between the two because the young man raised his concern for the Chontal Maya . After the meeting, the poet invited him to his senate campaign during the 1976 elections . His university professor, Enrique González Pedrero , was another figure that influenced López Obrador's political trajectory. After attending school from 1973 to 1976, he returned to his native Tabasco, where he held various government positions and
13832-540: The policy had a positive impact on crime reduction, others argued that there was insufficient evidence to determine the National Guard's effectiveness in reducing violence. They suggested that its presence might be more about preventive rhetoric than concrete outcomes. As part of her administration's education policy, the Mi Beca para Empezar ( lit. ' My Scholarship to Start ' ) scholarship program
13965-412: The polling stations. The Supreme Court later ruled that the evidence presented did not demonstrate the occurrence of sufficient irregularities to change the election outcome. In response to this result, in a move reminiscent of Francisco I. Madero declaring himself provisional President of Mexico after calling the 1910 elections against Porfirio Díaz fraudulent, López Obrador's followers proclaimed him
14098-532: The president begins his term at 00:00 ( UTC-06:00 ) on October 1st, so the president assumes the powers of the office at that time, regardless of when the oath is taken. The Mexican Presidential sash has the colors of the Mexican flag in three bands of equal width, with green on top, white in the center, and red on the bottom, worn from right shoulder to left waist; it also includes the National Seal, in gold thread, to be worn chest-high. In November 2018,
14231-502: The president is considered to be revolutionary, in the sense that the powers of office are derived from the Revolutionary Constitution of 1917 . Another legacy of the Mexican Revolution is the Constitution's ban on re-election. Mexican presidents are limited to a single six-year term, called a sexenio . No one who has held the post, even on a caretaker basis, is allowed to run or serve again. The constitution and
14364-454: The president's powers were cloaked by democratic practice. With the democratic reforms of recent years and fairer elections, the president's powers have been limited in fact as well as in name. Vargas Llosa, during the Fox administration, called this new system "The Imperfect Democracy". The current rights and powers of the president of Mexico are established, limited and enumerated by Article 89 of
14497-468: The presidential campaign, which is strictly prohibited by electoral law, thereby providing grounds for election annulment; that (b) that votes were fraudulently tallied on 2 July and afterward; and that (c) there was widespread and significant evidence of electoral irregularities, ranging from stuffed ballot boxes and inconsistent tally reports to improper and illegal handling of the ballot trail and voter intimidation. The Court did find that President Fox and
14630-543: The presidential residence back to the National Palace upon the start of his term in 2018. Articles 84 and 85 of the Mexican Constitution state that "in case of absolute absence of a President" the following should happen: Article 85 additionally states that if the president requests a temporary absence – once authorized by the Congress – executive powers devolve provisionally upon the Secretary of
14763-428: The previous five years. When Cárdenas showed he would rule in name and fact, Calles publicly criticized him, prompting Cárdenas to have Calles escorted out of the country by military police. Cárdenas himself remained silent on the policies of his successor Manuel Ávila Camacho , establishing a tradition that former presidents do not interfere with their successors. For example, Ernesto Zedillo holds important offices in
14896-425: The results, claiming widespread irregularities, and demanded an election recount. (A generalized recount is only to be carried in extreme circumstances, according to Mexican Electoral Tribunal Jurisprudence S3ELJ14-2004.) On 8 July 2006, López Obrador called for nationwide protests to ask for a national recount, stating "the government would be responsible for any flare-up of anger after officials rejected his demand for
15029-458: The ruling President usually found their efforts blocked: the PRI's Zedillo by opposing PAN/PRD congressmen, and later the PAN's Fox by the PRI and PRD. The PAN would push the reforms it denied to the PRI and vice versa. This situation, novel in a country where Congress was +90% dominated by the president's party for most of the century, has led to a legal analysis of the president's power. Formerly almost
15162-577: The same time, Martín Huerta, a member of Fox's cabinet, received a reprimand and continued to hold office as Secretary of Public Safety until he died in a helicopter accident. López Obrador later appointed Ebrard as Secretary of Social Development and supported his candidacy in the PRD primaries to run for office as Head of Government of the Federal District in 2006 . Elected government officials in Mexico have an official immunity called fuero that prevents criminal charges from being brought against them, which can be removed through desafuero . In 2004,
15295-476: The south-eastern state of Tabasco , López Obrador earned a degree in political science from the National Autonomous University of Mexico following a hiatus from his studies to participate in politics. He began his political career in 1976 as a member of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). His first public position was as director of the Indigenous Institute of Tabasco, where he promoted
15428-528: The system, making Line 3 entirely electric, and purchased low-emission vehicles for the city's Red de Transporte de Pasajeros . The use of bicycles was promoted through the construction of 200 kilometers of bike lanes, primarily on the city's outskirts, along with six bike stations and the acquisition of 2,500 new bicycles for the Ecobici system. Sheinbaum introduced a single mobility card for all public transportation systems. Sheinbaum announced
15561-423: The time of her resignation to seek her party's presidential nomination. In 2019, Sheinbaum implemented a gender-neutral uniform policy for students in state-run schools, allowing them to wear uniforms of their choice regardless of gender. In 2021, Sheinbaum removed a statue of Christopher Columbus from Mexico City's Paseo de la Reforma as part of what she called a " decolonization " exercise. Shortly after
15694-486: The title "president" until death but are rarely referred by it; they are commonly called ex-presidents. They were also given protection by the former Estado Mayor Presidencial . Prior to 2018, former presidents also received a lifetime pension, though they could refuse it, as Ernesto Zedillo did. The system was abolished in 2018. Unlike in some other republics, former presidents of Mexico do not continue to be important national figures once out of office, and usually lead
15827-452: The way down to the local level. They thus had an important (but not exclusive) influence over the political life of the country (part of their power had to be shared with unions and other groups, but as an individual, they had no peers). This and their constitutional powers made some political commentators describe the president as a six-year dictator, and to call this system an "imperial presidency". The situation remained largely unchanged until
15960-542: Was a Cantabrian who arrived as an exile in Mexico from Ampuero , Spain , while his maternal grandmother Úrsula González was the daughter of Asturians . Through his paternal grandparents, López Obrador is also of Indigenous and African descent. López Obrador attended the only elementary school in town, the Marcos E. Becerra school, managed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and named after
16093-428: Was a chemical engineer . Sheinbaum has two siblings. Her older brother, Julio, is a physicist and physical oceanography researcher at CICESE . Her younger sister, Adriana, is a teacher who lives in the United States and is married to film director Rodrigo García Barcha . Sheinbaum studied physics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), earning an undergraduate degree in 1989. She earned
16226-452: Was a false left-wing candidate, arguing that he was a centrist candidate. Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas did not participate in campaign events but stated that he would still vote for his party, the PRD. López Obrador's proposals, including his 50 commitments , produced mixed opinions from analysts. The Washington Post wrote that López Obrador used U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt as inspiration for his proposals. On 19 May, Roberto Madrazo ,
16359-687: Was a professor at the Juárez Autonomous University of Tabasco . During his early career, he met Rocío Beltrán Medina, a sociology student, who suggested López Obrador embrace the progressive wing of the PRI. They eventually married on 8 April 1978. They had three sons: José Ramón López Beltrán (born 1981), Andrés Manuel López Beltrán (born 1986), and Gonzalo Alfonso López Beltrán (born 1991). Beltrán Medina died on 12 January 2003 due to respiratory arrest caused by lupus , which she had suffered for several years. On 16 October 2006, he married Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller , who had worked in
16492-403: Was accepted on election night by the PRI in the voice of President Zedillo; while this calmed fears of violence, it also fueled questions about the role of the president in the electoral process and to whom the responsibility of conceding defeat should fall in a democratic election. After a presidential election, political parties may issue challenges to the election. These challenges are heard by
16625-431: Was amended to allow city mayors , congresspeople and senators to run for a second consecutive term. Previously, Deputies and Senators were barred from successive re-election. The president remains barred from even non-consecutive reelection. The Constitution does not establish formal academic qualifications to serve as president. Most presidents during the 19th and early 20th centuries had careers in one of two fields:
16758-584: Was characterized by a strong relationship with the federal government and President López Obrador . However, she took distinct approaches to certain issues, such as managing the COVID-19 pandemic , where her scientific background shaped the city's response to the crisis. Sheinbaum stepped down on 16 June 2023 to contend with the internal selection process for a presidential candidate for the Morena-led coalition, Juntos Hacemos Historia . Sheinbaum recommended Martí Batres as substitute head of government,
16891-646: Was created for 1.2 million students from preschool to secondary education and, in 2022, was elevated to constitutional law in Mexico City. For higher education, the Rosario Castellanos Institute of Higher Studies [ es ] and the University of Health were established. Community centers called pilares ( lit. ' pillars ' ) were established in marginalized neighborhoods and towns. These spaces promoted arts, sports, education, and cultural activities and were recognized with an award from UNESCO in 2021. In June 2019, Sheinbaum announced
17024-498: Was elected Head of Government of the Federal District , a position akin to that of city mayor for the national capital district , with 38.3% of the vote. As mayor, López Obrador implemented various social programs that included extending financial assistance to help vulnerable groups in Mexico City, including single mothers, senior citizens, and the physically and mentally challenged. He invested in housing and schools, created old-age pensions, and expanded services. He also helped found
17157-416: Was elected in 2018 with a modern-era record of 53% of the popular vote in 2018. The previous president, Enrique Peña Nieto won 38% of the popular vote in 2012. Former President Felipe Calderón won with 36.38% of the votes in the 2006 general election , finishing only 0.56% above his nearest rival, Andrés Manuel López Obrador (who contested the official results ). In 2000, former President Vicente Fox
17290-410: Was elected president in the special elections that followed in 1930, but he resigned in 1932. Abelardo L. Rodríguez was then appointed Interim President to fill out the remainder of Ortiz Rubio's term (under current law Rodríguez would be Substitute President, but at the time there was no distinction between Interim, Substitute, and Provisional presidents). Former presidents of Mexico continue to carry
17423-540: Was elected with a plurality of 43% of the popular vote, Ernesto Zedillo won 48.7% of the vote in 1994, and his predecessor Carlos Salinas won with a majority of 50.4% in the 1988 election. After the fall of dictator Porfirio Díaz in 1910 following the Mexican Revolution , the government was unstable until 1929, when all the revolutionary leaders united in one political party: the National Revolutionary Party, which later changed its name to
17556-481: Was jailed in the early days of Zedillo's term, accused of drug trafficking and planning the assassination of José Francisco Ruiz Massieu . Carlos Salinas also wrote a book on neo-liberal Mexico, secured a position with the Dow Jones Company in the United States, and worked as a professor at several universities in that country. Ernesto Zedillo and Felipe Calderón two surviving former presidents lived in
17689-416: Was politically motivated (including The New York Times and The Washington Post ), that it undermined Mexican democracy, and that López Obrador's exclusion from the upcoming elections would delegitimize the eventual winner. After Congress voted to remove López Obrador's immunity, he asked for leave from his post for a few days. President Vicente Fox , wanting to avoid a political crisis and knowing that
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