Mexico City: Millions of Mexicans are expected to vote for their first female president in a crucial election on Sunday.
For a country with a long history of racial discrimination, two women have dominated the race to lead the world’s most Spanish-speaking nation.
Incumbent Claudia Scheinbaum told thousands at a closing campaign rally that Mexico will make “history” this weekend.
“I say to young women, to all women in Mexico – colleagues, friends, sisters, daughters, mothers and grandmothers – you are not alone,” said the 61-year-old.
Evelyn Traswina’s vow to defend women’s rights is music to her ears.
“Many people were lifted out of poverty and one of the promises was the recognition of women’s unpaid work,” she told AFP.
Sheinbaum, a former Mexico City mayor and trained scientist, leads his main opposition rival, Cochitl Galvez, 61, by about 17 points in polls days before the election.
Nearly 100 million people are registered to vote in 129 countries, and Rosa Maria Miranda, a 61-year-old housewife, said criminal violence would win Galvez support.
“We women are fed up. We are afraid to go out on the street,” he said.
The campaign season ended on a high note in the southern state of Guerrero on Wednesday, when a gunman killed a gubernatorial candidate.
The attacks brought the number of local politicians killed to at least 24 in the violent election period, according to official figures.
Several non-governmental organizations reported higher numbers, including Data Civica, which killed around 30 people.
Sheinbaum pledged to continue President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s controversial “no bullets” strategy to fight crime.
Galvez, meanwhile, has vowed to crack down on cartel-related violence.
“The bravest president you can have is a president who fights crime,” the senator and local businessman said at a closing meeting in the northern city of Monterrey.
He accused Lopez Obrador of implementing a “security strategy of embracing criminals and shooting citizens.”
Sheinbaum owes his close friend Lopez Obrador, who has more than 60 percent of his popularity but is only allowed to serve one term.
Nearly a year into the party’s nomination, Scheinbaum has traveled the country to meet with supporters.
As the election campaign draws to a close, the ruling party’s candidate has the support of 53 percent of voters, according to a poll by research firm Oracle.
Galvez, who ran against her main rival in a televised presidential debate, came in second with 36% calling her an “ice woman” and a “candidate.”
The only person running, 38-year-old Jorge Alvarez Maynez, only got 11 percent.
Fighting cartel violence, which is responsible for murders and kidnappings in Mexico every day, will be one of the main challenges facing the next leader, as will managing migration and fragile relations with the neighboring United States.
More than 450,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands have gone missing since the government sent troops to fight the drug trade in 2006.
While Mexican women are enjoying success in politics and business, gender-based violence remains a major problem in the country, where nearly 10 women are killed every day.
According to official data, while millions of Mexicans have been lifted out of poverty in recent years, more than a third live below the poverty line.
In addition to electing a new president, Mexicans will elect members of Congress, several state governors and many local officials. In total, more than 20,000 positions are contested.
