In Sunday’s fiery debate, the two frontrunners in Mexico‘s presidential race, both women, sparred over corruption, gender-based violence, and healthcare, exchanging pointed barbs along the way.
Leading the charge, Claudia Sheinbaum, the frontrunner from the ruling left-wing party, and her primary adversary, Xochitl Galvez, both aged 61, engaged in a volley of accusations and counterattacks, labeling each other’s statements as falsehoods, in the inaugural of three direct encounters preceding the June 2 electoral showdown.
Known for her candidness, Galvez, a prominent business figure and senator from the opposition, painted Sheinbaum as “aloof and callous,” alleging a notable absence of empathy towards children fighting cancer and those affected by earthquakes.
“Claudia Sheinbaum offers you to continue hugging criminals,” Galvez said — a reference to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s “hugs not bullets” strategy to tackle violent crime at its roots.
Over the past sixteen years, Mexico has witnessed a toll of nearly 450,000 lives lost to the escalating wave of drug-related violence, painting a grim picture of the country’s struggle with security challenges.
“My offer to you is that we build a Mexico where we put an end to violence, but above all that we focus on health and education,” Galvez said.
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With her track record as a former mayor of Mexico City and unwavering loyalty to Lopez Obrador, Sheinbaum vowed to carve her place in history as “Mexico’s first female president,” emphasizing her commitment to advancing gender equality and representation in leadership roles.
According to an average of polls compiled by the firm Oraculus, Sheinbaum has 59 per cent of voter support, while Galvez is in second place with 35 per cent.She highlighted the stark contrast between “returning to the corruption of bygone eras” or “moving forward with the nation’s ongoing reform agenda” championed by Lopez Obrador, urging voters to consider the implications of their choice for Mexico’s future.
Despite his popularity, the outgoing left-wing populist is bound by the constitution to step down after serving a single term, with an approval rating hovering around 70 percent, underscoring the constraints of Mexico’s democratic principles.
Yet, she is met with significant opposition in her quest for electoral triumph, signaling the arduous journey ahead in securing the support needed for victory.
Per the statistical analysis conducted by Oraculus, Sheinbaum maintains a commanding lead with 59 percent of voter preference, establishing her as the primary contender, while Galvez lags behind in second position with 35 percent backing.
Jorge Alvarez Maynez of the Citizen Movement party, who also took part in the debate, is a distant third with six per cent.
“There aren’t only two visions of the country,” the 38-year-old politician insisted.
The thorny issues of insecurity and foreign policy were largely left for the remaining debates.
“The debates are the only chance for Galvez to try to force Sheinbaum to make a mistake,” Roy Campos, an expert with the polling firm Consulta Mitofsky, told AFP.
But it was unlikely that the contests would change voters’ intentions much, he said.
“It’s very difficult for a citizen to say ‘Oh, I’m going to change my vote,’” Campos said.