The article contrasts Claudia Sheinbaum's successful presidential campaign in Mexico with the global trend of declining support for incumbent parties and the rise of right-wing leaders in 2024. Sheinbaum's victory is highlighted as a significant exception to this trend.
Sheinbaum, a secular Jewish climate scientist, is presented as the antithesis of strongmen leaders like Trump and Putin, and other figures in Latin America. Her policies and approach are seen as a refreshing alternative to the autocratic machismo prevalent in global politics.
The article notes the lack of sexist backlash against Sheinbaum, Mexico's first female president, and cites her high approval rating (above 80 percent) six months into her term. Even Nayib Bukele, who calls himself “the world’s coolest dictator,” reportedly asked an AI chatbot about the world's most popular leader, and the response was Sheinbaum.
In a world where liberal humanism is perceived to be faltering, Sheinbaum's success, adopting López Obrador's “For the good of all, first the poor” slogan, is presented as a symbol of hope and a counterpoint to prevailing trends.