Mexico President-Elect Claudia Sheinbaum Picks Additional Cabinet Members

Incoming Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum announced five more cabinet members, including Luz Elena Gonzalez as secretary of energy.

Gonzalez, an expert in sustainable development, was previously in charge of Mexico City's finances, according to AP News.

Raquel Buenrostro, with 28 years in public administration, will be secretary of public administration.

David Kershenobich will be health secretary, Jesus Antonio Esteva Medina will lead communications and transportation, and Edna Elena Vega Rangel will head agrarian, territorial, and urban development.

Finance Minister Rogelio Ramírez de la O will continue his role.

The security chief appointment is pending, with Omar García Harfuch as a potential candidate.

Positive and Cautious Reactions

Analysts welcomed Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum cabinet choices but expressed concerns about Luz Elena Gonzalez's lack of energy experience.

Gonzalez, Sheinbaum's former finance chief, will chair Pemex's board and serve on the CFE board.

Gonzalez pledged to ensure national sovereignty and advance the energy transition.

Pemex faces massive debt and stagnant production, while Mexico struggles with power capacity amid blackouts.

Analyst Julia Gonzalez highlighted the importance of Gonzalez's financial expertise.

Political analyst Antonio Ocaranza noted Sheinbaum's focus on sustainability and finances, Reuters reports.

Energy analyst Miriam Grunstein warned of Gonzalez's inexperience.

Sheinbaum appointed Jesus Esteva as transportation minister, Raquel Buenrostro as federal comptroller, David Kershenobich as health minister, and Edna Vega Rangel as agrarian development minister.

Buenrostro currently serves as economy minister in Lopez Obrador's cabinet. Mexico's peso and stock exchange dipped following the announcements.

Last week, Sheinbaum named Marcelo Ebrard as economy minister and Juan Ramon de la Fuente as foreign minister.

Key Figures in Sheinbaum Cabinet

Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, a climate scientist and former academic, appointed former Foreign Affairs Secretary Marcelo Ebrard as her administration's economy secretary.

Ebrard stepped down from that post in 2023 to run against Sheinbaum for their party's nomination.

Sheinbaum won decisively in the June 2 election, NBC News noted.

Ebrard, 63, was tasked by President López Obrador with obtaining foreign-made vaccines for Mexico during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also served as mayor of Mexico City from 2006 to 2012, a role often seen as a stepping stone to the presidency.

While once a prominent figure in the Morena party, Ebrard's reputation suffered due to two major incidents.

A subway line built during his tenure as mayor collapsed in 2021, killing 26 passengers.

Additionally, after losing the primary race against Sheinbaum in 2023, he contested the results, alleging irregularities.

Sheinbaum chose Juan Ramón de la Fuente as her secretary for foreign affairs.

De la Fuente, 72, is the former rector of Mexico's largest National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), where Sheinbaum studied and worked.

De la Fuente has been Mexico's ambassador to the United Nations under Lopez Obrador and is known for his calm and diplomatic approach.

He served as health secretary in the late 1990s and is trained as a psychiatrist. De la Fuente also coordinated Sheinbaum's transition, making him one of her closest advisors.

Mexico's current foreign affairs secretary, Alicia Barcena, will now serve as secretary of environment and natural resources.

Mexico President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum created a new ministry for science, humanities, technology, and innovation led by Rosaura Ruiz Gutiérrez.

She appointed Ernestina Godoy as legal adviser and Julio Berdegue Sacristan as agriculture secretary.

More appointments are expected next week.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

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