Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel is among 16 heads of state set to attend the inauguration of Mexico's president-elect, Claudia Sheinbaum, on October 1st. On this day, Sheinbaum will officially take office in the Chamber of Deputies of Mexico's Congress, making history as the first woman to hold this position in the country.
Sheinbaum shared the invitation list herself, which notably lacks European leaders, instead featuring dignitaries from South America and the Caribbean. This absence underscores the regional focus of the event.
Sheinbaum, who is 61 years old and hails from Mexico City, secured a landmark victory on June 2nd, continuing the legacy of the Morena party established by outgoing president Andrés Manuel López Obrador. She has pledged to govern inclusively, though her ability to tackle economic and security challenges without falling back on populism or López Obrador's legacy remains to be seen. The new president will need to prove her capacity to implement effective and sustainable policies rather than merely echoing her predecessor's rhetoric.
Support for Mexican Independence and Judicial Reform
Recently, marking the anniversary of Mexico's independence on September 15th, Díaz-Canel expressed his support for both López Obrador and Sheinbaum. He wished them success during the festivities and commented on the recent approval of a controversial judicial reform.
Previous Visits and Diplomatic Relations
During López Obrador's term, which began in December 2018, Díaz-Canel visited Mexico officially at least five times, while López Obrador made only one official visit to Cuba as the President of the United Mexican States. Díaz-Canel’s most recent visit to Mexico was for a Migration Summit titled "Meeting for a Fraternal Neighborhood and in Search of Well-Being," held on October 22, 2023, in Palenque, Chiapas.