Alicia Bárcena Appointed as Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador appointed Alicia Bárcena as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs. She will replace Marcelo Ebrard, who resigned yesterday as Foreign Minister to seek MORENA's presidential candidacy. 

In a morning press conference, López Obrador highlighted that Bárcena has convictions and principles that will help consolidate the country’s foreign policy. Bárcena has a Bachelor’s in biology from UNAM’s Faculty of Sciences and holds a Master's in Public Administration from Harvard University. She has been Ambassador of Mexico to Chile since Sept. 13, 2022. She was also a professor at UNAM and executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) from 2008 to March 2022. 

"We are certain that Foreign Minister Alicia Bárcena Ibarra, at the head of our country's international political and social relations, will continue to promote Mexico's presence in the field of international trade and the promotion of investments for the benefit of our country," says the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (COMCE).

Ebrard also celebrated the appointment of Bárcena, wishing her "the greatest success" during her tenure. "I congratulate Alicia Bárcena on her Ministry of Foreign Affairs nomination and wish her the greatest success. Alicia worked closely with us during her brilliant tenure as the head of ECLAC and showed her ability and commitment to the best causes ," Ebrard wrote in his official Twitter account.

Both Ebrard and Mexico City Major Claudia Sheinbaum have resigned from their positions to fully dedicate themselves to campaign for MORENA’s presidential candidature. MORENA will choose its presidential candidate through several polls that will take place between Aug. 28 and Sept. 3. Results will be officially announced on Sept. 6.