In what has become the most violent election in Mexico’s history, the killing of two mayoral candidates on the same day has brought the total number of slain candidates to 17. Noe Ramos Ferretiz, seeking re-election as mayor of Ciudad Mante, Tamaulipas, was found dead after being stabbed. Alberto Garcia, a candidate for mayor of San Jose Independencia, Oaxaca, was discovered deceased a day after being reported missing.
The violence surrounding the upcoming presidential, congressional, and local polls on June 2 has raised concerns about the safety of candidates. Organized crime, particularly drug cartels, has been linked to the assassinations of politicians, often aiming to control local police or extort money from municipal governments.
Alejandro Moreno, leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), confirmed the “cowardly assassination” of Ramos Ferretiz and expressed determination not to let violence decide the elections. The state electoral board in Oaxaca condemned Garcia’s death, labeling it a “killing” and emphasizing that such crimes should not occur during elections.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador acknowledged the influence of cartels in determining mayoral positions, either by running their own candidates or eliminating potential rivals. The recent wave of killings has prompted the government to provide bodyguards for approximately 250 candidates, with those running for municipal positions being the most endangered.
Earlier this month, Bertha Gaytan, a candidate for mayor of Celaya, Guanajuato, was shot dead on the first day of her campaign. In April, the mayor of Churumuco, Michoacan, was fatally shot at a taco restaurant in the state capital, Morelia. In late February, two mayoral hopefuls in Michoacan were shot dead within hours of each other.
1 Response
Wow, this post sheds light on a very important and concerning issue in Mexico’s election. It’s commendable that you are bringing attention to the violence surrounding the candidates. However, it would be helpful to provide more context or analysis on why this election is particularly violent compared to previous ones. Overall, great job on addressing this critical topic.