'Now is the time of women': Claudia Sheinbaum sworn in as Mexico's first female president

Despite her pledge to continue her predecessor's policies, the cautious scientist and ideological university leftist is a very different personality

MEXICO CITY – Claudia Sheinbaum was sworn in Tuesday as Mexico’s first female president, riding the enthusiasm over her predecessor’s social programs but also facing challenges that include stubbornly high levels of violence.

After a smiling Sheinbaum took the oath of office on the floor of Congress, legislators shouted the feminine form of the word president in Spanish — “Presidenta! Presidenta!” — for the first time in over 200 years of Mexico’s history as an independent country.