President Joe Biden’s administration is seeking to bolster US-Mexico relations as Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first ever woman president, was sworn into office.
First lady Jill Biden led the US’ delegation to President Sheinbaum’s inauguration.
Sheinbaum won the last presidential elections by a wide margin, gathering nearly 60% of the votes.
“Jill and I extend our heartfelt congratulations to President Claudia Sheinbaum on her inauguration,” reads an official White House statement. “The United States is committed to continuing to work with Mexico to deliver the democratic, prosperous, and secure future that the people of our two countries deserve.”
Sheinbaum has been a polarizing figure in the United States, however, with conservative legislators wary of her socialist policies and affinity with Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro.
Sheinbaum, who is the former mayor of Mexico City, is a member of the progressive Morena party and viewed as a mentee of current President Manuel Lopez Obrador.
According to the Wilson Center, Morena defends policies associated with hard left-wing parties, such as energy nationalization, welfare, and LGBTQ initiatives.
Morena has captured the reins of Mexican society, controlling Congress, the Executive, and two-thirds of all the country’s governorships.
Consequently, American lawmakers are preparing for a new Mexican government led by Sheinbaum that will most likely reflect the policies of her predecessor.
Sheinbaum, who will now lead Morena, has previously raised eyebrows with her past actions and statements, drawing comparisons with socialist authoritarian figures.
Specifically, Sheinbaum has been publicly gracious and friendly towards Dictator Maduro, stirring controversy for her relationship with the notorious Venezuelan dictator.
Sheinbaum has also clashed with former President Donald Trump.
President Trump and Sheinbaum’s confrontation occurred after Trump boasted of bringing Mexican officials to concede on border negotiations.
Similarly, Sheinbaum’s inauguration was shrouded in controversy, as the inauguration banned the king of Spain, a figure whose presence is a staple of latin american presidential inaugurations.
Sheinbaum banned the Spanish monarch for the latter’s refusal to respond to a request from the Mexican government to apologize for Spain’s colonial past in Mexico.
