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By KELIN DILLON 

On Monday, Aug. 14, member of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) and mayor of Mexico City’s Cuauhtémoc neighborhood Sandra Cuevas announced her candidacy for the head of the Mexico City government in 2024.

The National Regeneration Movement’s (Morena) Martí Batres, who took over from former Mexico City Governor Claudia Sheinbaum after she resigned to compete for her party’s presidential candidacy, currently serves as the head of the Mexican capital.

Cuevas, who has been a controversial figure in Mexico City politics ever since she assumed her mayorship in 2021, revealed her intentions to succeed Batres’ term during a rally in Cuauhtémoc Monday, saying that “my duty is with the people, and if God allows me and you help me, yes, I will run to be the next head of government.”

As part of her platform, Cuevas proposed creating a sector within the Headquarters of Government where the 16 mayors of Mexico City’s neighborhoods can collaborate on initiatives for the capital surrounding security, health care and public space upkeep.

The Cuauhtémoc mayor also suggested a minimum salary of 30,000 pesos per month, plus life insurance, for the capital’s police force, as well as raises for construction workers in Mexico City.

Other initiatives floated by Cuevas include expanding the capital’s Metro infrastructure, rehabilitating its schools and guaranteeing health care access through the development of health clinics citywide.

The announcement contradicts Cuevas’ previous statement from last February that she would be retiring from politics, and another statement from June saying she would aspire to lead Mexico City’s Secretariat for Citizen Security (SSC).

The change of plans could be indicative of Cuevas’ future intentions, as many former Mexico City governors – such as Sheinbaum and current Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) – notably have gone on to run for the nation’s federal presidency later on in their political careers.

Meanwhile, never one to shy away from controversy, Cuevas caught widespread backlash for her choice to wear a 76,000-peso suit while announcing her candidacy Monday.