Marta Sahagún facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Marta Sahagún |
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| First Lady of Mexico | |
| In role 2 July 2001 – 30 November 2006 |
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| President | Vicente Fox |
| Preceded by | Nilda Patricia Velasco |
| Succeeded by | Margarita Zavala |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Marta María Sahagún Jiménez April 10, 1953 Zamora, Michoacán, Mexico |
| Political party | National Action Party |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | Fernando Bribiesca Sahagún Jorge Alberto Godoy Manuel Godoy |
Marta Sahagún (born Marta María Sahagún Jiménez on 10 April 1953) was the First Lady of Mexico. She held this important role from 2 July 2001, when she married President Vicente Fox, until he finished his time in office on 30 November 2006. She was known for sharing her opinions and being very active during her husband's time as president. This was different from many First Ladies before her. During her time, there were some discussions about her charity, the Vamos México foundation, and her family's activities.
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Marta Sahagún's Early Life
Marta Sahagún was born in Zamora, Michoacán, a city in Mexico. She was the second of six children. Her father, Dr. Alberto Sahagún de la Parra, started a hospital and a nursing school in Zamora. Her mother was Ana Teresa Jiménez Vargas.
For some years, Marta Sahagún worked as an English teacher at a university called Universidad Lasallista Benavente. She first married a veterinarian named Manuel Bribiesca Godoy. Together, they ran a business that sold supplies for animals in Celaya, Guanajuato. They had three children: Manuel, Jorge Alberto, and Fernando. They separated in 1998 and later divorced in 2000.
Her Journey into Politics
Marta Sahagún became an active member of the National Action Party in 1988. This is a major political party in Mexico. She tried to become the mayor of Celaya but was not successful.
During this time, she met Vicente Fox. When he became the governor of Guanajuato, he chose her to be his spokeswoman. She continued to work as his press secretary during his successful campaign to become president. She also served as his press secretary for his first year as president. Marta Sahagún and Vicente Fox got married in 2001.
As First Lady of Mexico
As First Lady, Marta Sahagún took on a very active role. She started a foundation and was often in the public eye.
The Vamos México Foundation
In September 2001, Marta Sahagún created a foundation called Vamos México, which means "Let's Go Mexico." The goal of this foundation was to help people in Mexico who were struggling. It also supported other organizations.
The Vamos México foundation started with a special concert by the singer Elton John at Chapultepec Castle. Some people thought it was not right to use a national monument for a private event. Later, there were questions about how the foundation managed its money. Some reports suggested that not all the donations went directly to helping people. There were also questions about how clear the foundation's financial records were.
The government also looked into whether public money from the national lottery and the president's office was properly given to the foundation. The director of the lottery at that time was the sister of someone on the board of Vamos México. In response to these questions, Vamos México placed advertisements in newspapers to show how they spent their money.
Public Role and Decisions
Marta Sahagún was popular with many people in Mexico. However, some politicians and media outlets thought she might want to run for president herself. She also faced some questions about her spending as First Lady.
Even though she said she was interested in the presidency, Marta Sahagún announced in 2004 that she would not run for president. She said she would retire to the ranch she shared with her husband. She also added that she believed "Mexico is ready to be governed by a woman."
See also
In Spanish: Marta Sahagún para niños
- List of first ladies of Mexico
- Politics of Mexico
