After 2 years in office, how has Claudia Sheinbaum changed Mexico?

Since Claudia Sheinbaum first took office in 2024 as Mexico's first female president , she has largely adhered to the political agenda of her mentor and predecessor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

But she has also had to contend with several problems that go far beyond Mexico's borders: violence inflicted by drug cartels , tens of thousands of missing persons and the growing political pressure from US President Donald Trump .

Sheinbaum has been able to report some progress when it comes to the security situation in Mexico . In her second government report, presented in September, she touted a 51% drop in the daily homicide rate since 2024.

To what extent this progress can be attributed to Sheinbaum's administration is, however, a matter of debate. While the Mexican Institute of Human Rights and Democracy has also noted progress in the effort to reduce homicides, the Mexico Evalua think tank has said there isn't enough statistical evidence to attribute the decline directly to measures taken by Sheinbaum.

And other indicators highlight a problematic trend. Mexico Evalua, referring to the government's own figures, pointed out that the number of recorded cases of kidnapping and enforced disappearances has surged by 127% over the last decade, "crimes against life" by 197% and femicide by 53%.

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