Mexico Appoints New Minister for Women; Sheinbaum Discusses World Cup, USMCA
President Claudia Sheinbaum announced Laura Itzel Castillo as Mexico's new Minister for Women, filling a vacancy that lasted almost two months following Citlalli Hernández's resignation. Castillo will assume the role after completing her term as Senate president. In other news, Sheinbaum rated the opening days of the FIFA men's World Cup in Mexico as "excellent" and a "10/10," attributing public satisfaction to Mexico's win and the availability of free fan festival sites. The President also affirmed her belief in a 16-year extension for the USMCA trade pact and expressed readiness to engage in discussions with former U.S. President Trump regarding the agreement.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has named Laura Itzel Castillo as Mexico's new Minister for Women. This announcement comes almost two months after Citlalli Hernández resigned from the position in April, leaving the ministry without an officially designated head. Ingrid Gómez, the Deputy Minister for Women, has been overseeing the ministry's operations during this period.
Castillo is set to assume the ministerial role once she concludes her term as Senate president. Her extensive political career includes serving as a lawmaker in the Mexico City Congress and the federal Chamber of Deputies in the 1990s. She also held the position of mayor for the Mexico City borough of Coyoacán from 1999 to 2000, and later served as urban development and housing minister in Mexico City during Andrés Manuel López Obrador's mayoral term (2000-2005). Additionally, Castillo was a federal deputy again and the general director of Mexico City's Passenger Transportation Network (RTP) from 2015 to 2018.
Regarding the FIFA men's World Cup, President Sheinbaum provided a positive assessment of the tournament's initial days in Mexico, describing them as "excellent" and giving a "10/10" rating. She noted that people appear "happy" with the event, crediting Mexico's victory over South Africa and the availability of free fan festival sites. Sheinbaum highlighted that these fan sites are crucial for allowing individuals who cannot afford to watch matches at home to view the games, as not all matches are broadcast on free-to-air television.
On the topic of the USMCA trade agreement, Sheinbaum expressed confidence that all three signatory countries – Mexico, the United States, and Canada – favor extending the pact for an additional 16 years, citing the benefits it brings to the region. This stance comes despite recent declarations from former U.S. President Trump that he was not seeking to "renew" the agreement. A Mexican delegation, led by Marcelo Ebrard, is currently in Washington for related talks. Sheinbaum also indicated her willingness to speak with Trump about the USMCA, stating, "If it's necessary, yes, of course."
According to Mexico News Daily, these announcements were made during Monday's presidential press conference.
