Mexico’s incoming president announces first Cabinet picks: academics and former public servants [Video]

MEXICO CITY – Mexico’s incoming President Claudia Sheinbaum began naming her Cabinet Thursday, presenting an even gender distribution, as well as a heavy presence from academia and her prior administration as Mexico City’s mayor.

Sheinbaum, herself 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 romped to victory in the June 2 election.

Ebrard, 63, was the official President Andrés Manuel López Obrador placed in charge of obtaining foreign-made vaccines for Mexico during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also served from 2006 to 2012 as mayor of Mexico City, traditionally the launching pad for the presidency.

While he was once viewed as the second-most important figure in the Morena party, his standing was tarnished by two key events. First, a subway line that was hastily and poorly constructed …