Sheinbaum’s First 100 Days Mark Shifts in Mexico's Security Strategy

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In her initial 100 days as President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum has inherited a severe security crisis characterized by rising murder rates and missing persons, according to research from the think tank México Evalúa. The report indicates these figures have exceeded those from the same period of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

Sheinbaum’s strategy appears to continue López Obrador's policies, notably avoiding the controversial "hugs, not bullets" slogan. However, she emphasizes intelligence and investigation as foundational to her approach, a change noted with the appointment of Omar García Harfuch as head of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection. Despite increased security operations and arrests, questions remain about the effectiveness of these measures in addressing entrenched criminal influences, particularly in regions where organized crime dominates political and economic spheres.

Experts like Armando Vargas argue that Sheinbaum faces a more severe context of violence and that her strategy lacks a comprehensive plan, particularly in addressing extortion and other forms of violence beyond homicide. The long-term impact on crime rates and judicial outcomes remains to be seen.

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