Sheinbaum navigates a shrinking leftist bloc amid a rightward swing in the Americas
Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum confronts a more hostile regional landscape as right-wing forces gain ground, but she says her focus remains on Mexico’s people.
At the start of her term, Claudia Sheinbaum inherited a continent where progressive parties dominated and the United States was led by Joe Biden. The political map has shifted: Donald Trump now heads the United States and Brazil’s runoff may produce a right-wing president, positioning Mexico alongside Uruguay as a remaining progressive outpost. Political scientists note that Sheinbaum’s options for building international coalitions are diminishing, yet she insists her authority derives from the Mexican populace and that she will not spearhead a regional leftist alliance.
Maintaining a stable trade link with the United States, which accounts for roughly 80% of Mexico’s exports, remains a priority. Her approval rating, reported at 70%, is among the highest in the region, though security challenges persist, including a rise in disappearances exceeding 130,000. She has been invited to the upcoming Ibero-American Summit in Madrid, though her attendance remains uncertain amid tensions with local officials.
How this story developed
- Sep 3 Lula runs ultra-cautious campaign as poll gap with Bolsonaro narrows
- Sep 13 A new poll released in early September records Bolsonaro at 46% and Lula at 45% in a hypothetical runoff.
- Sep 25 President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva signed an order banning online betting in Brazil, a move that takes effect immediately but needs congressional approval within 120 days.
- Sep 28 The ban is now subject to a 120‑day congressional review.
- Oct 2 Presidential debate scheduled for Oct 1 was cancelled after the electoral court barred Lula’s participation and Bolsonaro withdrew.
- Oct 4 Both candidates held final campaign rallies, with Lula ending his bid in São Paulo and Flávio Bolsonaro leading a motorcycle convoy in São Paulo state.
- Oct 4 Alcohol dependence in Portugal has almost quadrupled over the past ten years, with only a fifth of sufferers receiving treatment, and Brazil prepares for a closely fought presidential vote.
- Oct 4 First round of Brazil’s presidential election was held.
- Oct 4 First round of voting produced no candidate with over 50%, making a runoff likely.
- Oct 5 First‑round results show Flávio Bolsonaro ahead with 47.1% and Lula at 45%, triggering a runoff on Oct 25.
- Oct 5 Senator Flavio Bolsonaro said the recent vote gave the right a dominant majority in Brazil's Senate and Chamber of Deputies.
- Oct 6 Flavio Bolsonaro secured a first‑round victory, making him the runoff frontrunner.
- Oct 9 Augusto Cury announced he will vote for Bolsonaro in the runoff.
- Oct 10 Former Minas Gerais governor Romeu Zema and former President Michel Temer publicly endorsed Flavio Bolsonaro.
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