The violence in Mexico’s upcoming elections has escalated with the killing of two mayoral candidates in a single day. Noe Ramos Ferretiz, seeking re-election as mayor of Ciudad Mante in Tamaulipas, was found stabbed to death. Alberto Garcia, running for mayor of San Jose Independencia in Oaxaca, was found dead a day after going missing. These deaths bring the total number of slain candidates to 17 ahead of the elections on June 2.
Authorities in Tamaulipas have launched a manhunt for the person responsible for killing candidate Noe Ramos Ferretiz, who was seeking re-election for a coalition of the National Action Party and the PRI. The PRI party leader Alejandro Moreno condemned the “cowardly assassination” of Ramos Ferretiz, promising that violence would not determine the outcome of the elections. The state electoral board also condemned the death of Alberto Garcia, calling it a “killing”, and stating that such crimes should not occur during elections.
Violence related to organized crime has long been a threat to politicians in Mexico, especially those seeking regional positions. Drug cartels often carry out assassination attempts to control local police or extort money from municipal governments. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador acknowledged that cartels often seek to influence mayoral elections by either running their own candidates or eliminating potential rivals. The recent increase in slayings has prompted the government to provide bodyguards for approximately 250 candidates, with municipal candidates being the most at risk.
Earlier this month, candidate Bertha Gaytan was shot dead on the first day of her campaign in Celaya, Guanajuato. In April, the mayor of Churumuco, Michoacan, was shot dead at a taco restaurant in Morelia. In late February, two mayoral hopefuls in Michoacan were also shot dead within hours of each other. The government is taking steps to protect candidates, particularly those running for municipal positions, as they are deemed to be the most vulnerable to violence.
The deaths of Noe Ramos Ferretiz and Alberto Garcia add to the already high toll of slain candidates in Mexico’s most violent election season on record. The country is facing a significant challenge in ensuring the safety and security of candidates as they campaign for public office. The government’s response to the escalating violence includes providing bodyguards for candidates and condemning the killings as unacceptable in a democratic society. The murders of these candidates highlight the dangerous and volatile nature of Mexican politics, particularly in areas where drug cartels wield significant influence and power.
