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Mexico’s First Female President Holds Press Conference

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Mexico’s new President Heinbaum started her day Wednesday the same way her political mentor, former President Obrador, did for much of his reign: early in the morning she held a press conference at the National Palace.

Sheinbaum’s press conference: a new approach

Mexico’s female president also conducts morning briefings, but her style is different from her predecessor’s, the Associated Press reported today.

Former President Obrador’s press conferences, dubbed “Manila,” are marathon extravaganzas that include cordial conversations, oral debates with the media, and often lengthy history lessons. His oratorical skills have made his daily two-and-a-half-hour “Manila” a powerful political weapon.

Scheinbaum’s morning briefing, however, was shown to be shorter, more concise and less contentious, in keeping with her character as a scientist and academic.

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The president said she would retain some of her predecessor’s fixtures, such as publishing a weekly column attacking what she called the media’s accusations of “lies” against the government. The new president also continues to have a diplomatic dispute with Spain – which has refused to apologize for atrocities committed during the 16th-century conquest of Mexico – that many believe she will try to defuse.

Sheinbaum also continued former President Obrador’s efforts to downplay drug cartel violence in the northern state of Sinaloa, saying the state was not one of the most murderous this week.

Not surprisingly, Sheinbaum has decided to continue her mentor’s pattern of success – and she promises to continue almost everything he did. She wants to set the daily agenda of the press, as former President Obrador did during his presidency.

After her June 2 election victory, the former Mexico City mayor began holding midday press conferences, each ending within a half-hour. She would make an announcement and then answer questions from reporters.

At her first news conference yesterday, Wednesday, Scheinbaum was more punctual in her arrivals and answers, and unlike former President Obrador, she didn’t use the questions as an excuse to spend half an hour talking about little-known chapters of Mexico’s history. But she did open her first press conference with the government’s 56th anniversary apology for the Oct. 2, 1968, massacre of student pro-democracy protesters by military forces in Mexico City’s Plaza de Tlatelolco, which killed as many as 300 people.

Honoring history: acknowledging past tragedies

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Scheinbaum revealed that her mother had been involved in the movement and had been expelled from a state university in retaliation. “As I’ve said before, I’m a child born in 1968”, she said. Scheinbaum said her memories of that period, when she was six years old, were “very painful”.

The 70-year-old Ovrador, who ended his presidency on Monday, held daily briefings Monday through Friday during which he joked, criticized harshly and often attacked journalists critical of the government, releasing their phone numbers and personal financial data.

“As a communicator, she stands out”, said Roy Campos, president of the polling firm Consulta-Mitofsky. He said Sheinbaum’s speaking style was “succinct.” He added that she conveys the image of “a university professor who is trying to demonstrate seriousness and truth through science.”

This is a far cry from the personable former president, López Obrador, who would speak for hours on end, using a lot of colloquial language, and who liked to confront his opponents publicly.

With his powerful speeches, Obrador left office with an approval rating of more than 60 percent. His achievements made him one of the most popular presidents in recent Mexican history.

The challenge ahead: gaining public support

The question now is whether Scheinbaum will be able to win the attention and sympathy that Obrador consolidated during his six-year term. According to Campos, it will all depend on how she looks in front of the camera and how effectively she utilizes the latest reports and data to engage the public.

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