The lead-up to the June 2 mayoral elections in Mexico has been marked by violence, with two more candidates found dead, bringing the total to 17 contenders slain. One candidate, Noé Ramos Ferretiz, was running for reelection as mayor of Ciudad Mante in Tamaulipas. He was attacked and reportedly stabbed, highlighting the ongoing drug cartel violence in the region. Another candidate, Alberto García, was found dead in Oaxaca after being reported missing. The state prosecutors suspect he was beaten to death on an island in a reservoir near San José Independencia.
The escalating violence in Mexico has raised concerns about the safety and stability of the upcoming national elections. The country is facing its most violent election season on record, with drug cartels targeting mayoral candidates to exert control over local governments. The government has provided bodyguards for around 250 candidates, but those running for municipal positions remain at high risk. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador acknowledged that cartels often seek to influence or eliminate potential mayoral candidates to secure their influence at the local level.
The recent killings of mayoral candidates have prompted condemnation from political leaders and electoral boards across Mexico. The National Action Party and Institutional Revolutionary Party coalition, to which Ramos Ferretiz belonged, denounced his assassination as a cowardly act. The state electoral board in Oaxaca also criticized the death of García, emphasizing that such crimes should not occur during elections. The slayings have sparked outrage and raised fears about the safety of those running for public office in a country plagued by widespread violence and corruption.
The assassination attempts on mayoral candidates highlight the pervasive influence of drug cartels in Mexican politics. These criminal organizations often seek to control local police forces and extort money from municipal governments by targeting politicians and candidates. The violence against politicians is a major issue in Mexico, as demonstrated by the spate of killings leading up to the June elections. The government’s efforts to provide security for candidates have been insufficient to protect them from targeted attacks by cartel members.
The ongoing violence against mayoral candidates underscores the challenges facing Mexico in maintaining law and order in the lead-up to the national elections. The brutality of these attacks has raised concerns about the integrity of the electoral process and the safety of those seeking public office. The Mexican government will need to address the underlying issues of corruption, drug trafficking, and violence in order to ensure a fair and safe electoral environment for all candidates. As the country grapples with these challenges, it is essential for political leaders and law enforcement agencies to prioritize the protection of candidates and the enforcement of justice in the face of rampant criminal activity.
