Beatriz Paredes on Mexico’s Structural Challenges

Q: As the second female governor in Mexico, what is your assessment of female participation in the political sphere?

A: Mexico has seen an important transformation in the political system. Women from across the political spectrum came together to push for electoral reforms, first to secure gender quotas and later to ensure full parity. Thanks to that effort, Mexico is now one of the very few countries in the Americas with at least 50% female representation in both the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.

We also worked to make sure that parity would not remain limited to Congress. In the previous legislature, we pushed for it to have an impact on gubernatorial nominations, the federal executive branch and the judiciary. There has clearly been progress in terms of women’s participation in public power.

However, those advances in institutions are not the same as progress in everyday life. What concerns me most is the real condition in which millions of Mexican women live. That is where the real challenge lies. We need an equity agenda that creates more opportunities and, above all, guarantees a life free of violence. Because it is also true that, in some cases, this growing visibility and leadership of women has been accompanied by an increase in domestic violence.

Q: Feminicides in Mexico remain a critical issue. From a structural perspective, how can this begin to change institutionally and also within communities?

A: First of all, the government must guarantee zero impunity. Justice institutions have to work effectively, and public security policies must truly protect people. But beyond institutions, the deeper challenge is cultural change. Women must not feel alone, and they must know that abuse, offense, and violence are not normal and should never be accepted as such.

Younger generations are much more aware of these issues. Young women and young men alike have a stronger understanding of the need for respect and equality, and I hope they will take the decisive step toward building more respectful and harmonious relationships.

Q: Fracking has recently become a major topic of debate in Mexico, but it remains highly controversial because of its impact on communities and public health. How should this issue be addressed?

A: Fracking is a controversial and sensitive issue. Having a plural commission of scientists and experts from different academic institutions to evaluate it is a positive step. What matters now is that those assessments are objective. Mexico faces major challenges: how to address its energy deficits, how to advance clean energy policies and, at the same time, how to make responsible use of its natural resources.

My hope is that new technologies will offer solutions that are much more compatible with environmental protection and that they will help us find better alternatives.

Q: Despite the government’s efforts through Plan México and other initiatives in water, housing, and health, what is Mexico’s main structural weakness? What is the key area the country still needs to address in order to sustain growth and remain competitive?

A: Mexico still needs strategic infrastructure projects that are truly aligned with the size of its economy and with the level of development the country will need in the 21st century. That means not only building more infrastructure, but building the right infrastructure: projects that strengthen connectivity, improve productivity, and support long-term growth. If Mexico wants to compete and grow sustainably, it must invest in infrastructure at the scale that its economic potential demands