Senator Xóchitl Gálvez, a former street-food salesgirl turned tech entrepreneur and senator, has been chosen as the opposition coalition’s candidate for the June 2024 presidential elections in Mexico. This nomination suggests that Mexico’s next president will likely be a woman, as former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum leads the polls for the primary race.
If elected, Gálvez will become Mexico’s first woman president, breaking a longstanding barrier in the country’s political landscape. Currently, the opposition coalition, known as the Broad Front for Mexico, and Morena, President López Obrador’s party, are the biggest political forces in Mexico. However, Gálvez’s nomination could potentially change the current status quo.
Although Gálvez remains a long shot against Morena, which holds Congress and governs the majority of Mexico’s states, her selection by the coalition’s selection committee indicates that she has gained significant support within her own party. The coalition had planned to hold a public vote on the nomination, but it was canceled after the only other remaining contender dropped out.
Gálvez will now face one of the six contenders for the Morena party’s nomination, with the winner expected to be announced on September 6. One of the main obstacles she faces is López Obrador’s popularity and his willingness to campaign against her using his presidency. He has already used tax information to accuse Gálvez of insider dealing in government contracts, an allegation she strongly denies.
The Broad Front for Mexico is a coalition that brings together conservative, centrist, and progressive forces united by their opposition to López Obrador. Gálvez’s selection as their candidate reflects the coalition’s effort to present a strong, unified front against the incumbent party.
Gálvez’s background as a former street-food salesgirl who became a successful tech entrepreneur resonates with many voters, as it reflects the folksy, plain-spoken style popularized by López Obrador. Additionally, she grew up poor in the state of Hidalgo and strongly identifies with her Indigenous roots. However, her occasionally off-color jokes have also made headlines.
The upcoming election in June 2024 presents an opportunity for López Obrador to demonstrate whether his political movement can outlast his own leadership. The next president will face significant challenges, including addressing violence, drug cartels, and migration issues.
As the race for the presidency unfolds, the possibility of Mexico welcoming its first woman president hangs in the balance, with Gálvez determined to break through the barriers and lead the nation into a new era of change and progress.
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