The first lady of Mexico (Spanish: Primera Dama de México) or first gentleman of Mexico (Spanish: Primer Caballero de México)[1] is the informal title held by the spouse of the president of Mexico, concurrent with the president's term of office.
| First Gentleman of Mexico | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Residence | National Palace of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico |
| Term length | 6 years |
| Inaugural holder | María Antonia Bretón |
| Formation | 1917 |
| Website | Gob.MX |
The position has no legal foundation and was originally started as a courtesy title. However, several holders of the title have taken on ceremonial roles during the presidential tenure of their spouses and have used the position to advocate for various causes.
Jesús María Tarriba is the current First Gentleman of Mexico as the husband of President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
Role
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The first lady or first gentleman is not an elected position, carries no official duties and brings no salary. Nonetheless, the title holder attends many official ceremonies and functions of state either along with or in place of the president. There is a strict taboo against the president's spouse holding outside employment during the president's sexenio. Traditionally, the first lady took an important (ceremonial) post as head of the Desarrollo Integral de la Familia (DIF) ("Integral Family Development"). However, this did not occur during the Fox administration when First Lady Marta Sahagún founded the national philanthropic organization Vamos México.
History
editTwo first ladies have been active politicians: Martha Sahagún, who married Vicente Fox during his tenure (2001–2006), had been a party activist and candidate for mayor of Celaya on the PAN party ticket, and was briefly considered a contender for PAN's nomination to run for either the Jefe de Gobierno (Governor of the Federal District) or president in the 2006 election. Margarita Zavala, wife of Felipe Calderón, was a deputy from 2003 to 2006. In the 2018 Mexican general election, she was a pre-candidate for the nomination of PAN, and then she briefly ran as an independent.[3]
Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller (2018 to 2024), wife of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, abstained from using the title of first lady. She stated it was a "role with no concrete functions or responsibilities." She also said she wanted to "serve Mexico any way she can", and that the title "first lady" is "somewhat classist".[4] Gutiérrez Müller also refused the position as head of the National DIF.[5]
List of first ladies and gentlemen of Mexico
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Post-revolutionary era
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Living former first ladies
editAs of 28 November 2024, there are six living former first ladies, as identified below.
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The most recent first lady to die was Paloma Cordero, widow of Miguel de la Madrid on May 11, 2020.
See also
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References
editNotes
edit- ^ "¿Quién es Jesús María Tarriba, pareja de Claudia Sheinbaum y futuro primer caballero de México?". CNN (in Spanish). 3 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ "Encabeza Angélica Rivera instalación de Centro de Acopio". gob.mx (in Spanish). Sistema Nacional DIF. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ "Margarita Zavala renuncia a su candidatura para presidir México" [Margarita Zavala renounces her candidacy to lead Mexico]. El Pais (in Spanish). May 17, 2018. Retrieved August 24, 2019.
- ^ "La esposa de López Obrador suprime la figura de primera dama en México" [Wife of Lopez Obrador abolishes the post of First Lady of Mexico], El Diario.es (in Spanish), August 4, 2018, retrieved August 24, 2019
- ^ ""No soy presidente del DIF ni funcionaria pública": Beatriz Gutiérrez Müller tras recibir críticas en redes sociales". infobae (in European Spanish). 2 January 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
- ^ President Obregón was assassinated just after being reelected and declared President-Elect, thus he was never sworn in, and therefore she did not assume the role and was First Lady-Designate from July 1, 1928 – July 17, 1928.
- ^ Since Vicente Fox was divorded upon assumption of the presidency, the post was vacant from December 1, 2000 to July 1, 2001, when he wed Marta Sahagún, who would then assume the role.
External links
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