The Ministry of Women, an institution touted by the current administration as an "act of historical justice," marks 46 days this Sunday without a permanent head. The agency has been leaderless since April 16, when Citlalli Hernández Mora vacated the position to assume the presidency of Morena’s National Elections Commission.
Despite the time elapsed, Hernández Mora insisted on social media that the institution continues to operate smoothly. As reported by the newspaper El Universal, the former secretary defended the agency's current structure, noting that "from its inception, it was built not to depend on any single person."
"There is an acting head, an annual plan, goals, lines of action, planning, and projected activities. All of my colleagues continue to work on these," Hernández Mora stated. As part of her defense, the former secretary shared her first progress report, highlighting initiatives such as "Weavers of the Homeland" and the implementation of the "Women’s Wellbeing Hotline."
Delay in Appointing a Successor
President Claudia Sheinbaum recently acknowledged that there has been a delay in the transition. On May 18, the president stated during her morning press conference that she had already identified the right profile to succeed Hernández Mora and promised to make the appointment official that same week—a deadline that ultimately passed without action.
Sheinbaum Pardo justified the delay by explaining that she was "reviewing the profiles of the candidates." To date, the executive branch has yet to announce who will be responsible for continuing the agenda of substantive equality and the eradication of violence, even though the government has made immediate cabinet changes following departures in other ministries, such as Finance or Foreign Affairs.
Among the names being floated for the position are María Elvira Concheiro Bórquez, the current Undersecretary of Substantive Equality, and Ingrid Gómez Saracibar, Undersecretary for the Right to a Life Free of Violence. Both officials have been praised by the President as high-performing leaders within the institution.
The Ministry of Women, created by the current federal administration, officially began operations on January 1, 2025, with the goal of serving as a legacy for future generations. However, the lack of a formal head after nearly a month and a half has drawn attention to the operational stability of this strategic agency.
