Mexican youth voters hope for change ahead of presidential election

  • 4 months ago

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Transcript
00:00 20-year-old Camila is among millions of young people gearing up to cast their ballots in
00:04 Mexico's landmark general election that's expected to see the country elect a female
00:09 president for the first time in its history.
00:11 With little enthusiasm for either of the two main candidates, Camila has yet to decide
00:17 who to vote for on June 2nd.
00:19 "Why am I going to vote?
00:22 Because it's necessary to be able to exercise a decision on how the country's decisions
00:27 are handled.
00:28 I think there is a general dissatisfaction with the candidates and the people who are
00:32 running for the presidency right now.
00:34 There is uncertainty.
00:37 We're deciding for the least worst option."
00:40 Out of some 99 million registered voters, around 15 million are aged between 18 and 24.
00:48 Some, including 21-year-old Ricardo, are hopeful that the election will bring about change.
00:56 "I hope employers won't abuse working hours and that the daily wage and labour rights
01:01 will be fairer."
01:02 Others are hoping that the future president will tackle drug-related violence in the country.
01:10 Leading the polls is Claudia Sheinbaum, a climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City.
01:16 Sheinbaum, who has the support of the governing party, has promised to maintain many of the
01:22 outgoing leftist president's policies, including a pension for all senior citizens and free
01:27 fertilisers for small farm owners.
01:29 Her main opponent is Xochitl Galvez, who previously served as the top official for Indigenous
01:35 Affairs before becoming a senator.
01:37 - [Child] That's right!

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