Mexico ruling party names Sheinbaum candidate for 2024, making first female president likely

A combination picture shows Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard (L) during the announcement of aspiring candidates for MORENA party's 2024 presidential candidacy, in Mexico City, Mexico June 11, 2023, and former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum during a rally at Macroplaza Iztapalapa, pursuing to be the ruling MORENA party's candidate for the 2024 presidential election, in Mexico City, Mexico, August 1, 2023. REUTERS/Henry Romero/File photo

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico's ruling party on Wednesday named former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum its candidate for next year's presidential election, putting her in pole position to become the country's first female leader.

Sheinbaum, 61, is a close ally of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and had been regarded as the strong favorite to be selected in the national poll organized by the leftist National Regeneration Movement (MORENA).