Over a dozen lives claimed. - Violent political season: Mayoral contender killed shortly before Mexico's elections
The Mexican election campaign concluded on Wednesday, marred by violence. Prior to his speech at a campaign event, opposition figure José Alfredo Cabrera was assassinated in Coyuca de Benítez. Footage on social media shows the crime, with Cabrera seen greeting his supporters moments before. Guerrero state governor Evelyn Salgado denounced Cabrera's murder, who was a candidate for a coalition consisting of the main opposition parties.
On the eve of the election, two other mayoral candidates were slain, as per authorities in Jalisco and Morelos. The primary presidential contenders, Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez, campaigned for votes in Mexico City.
In Mexico, not only is a new president voted for on Sunday, but parliamentary seats, regional representatives, and mayors are also chosen. Overall, over 20,000 mandates are up for election.
Political Violence: A Concern Wrapping Up Mexico's Elections
To date in this year, approximately 27 candidates have been murdered, with many mayoral or city council candidates among them. Although this hasn't risen significantly compared to some previous elections, the violence is becoming increasingly random. Previously, criminals targeted specific candidates, but now, they're shooting at entire election gatherings.
Gálvez, representing the conservative opposition, accused the outgoing president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, of neglecting criminals. "Should we persist with hugs or enforce the law upon criminals?" Gálvez asked raucously at her farewell rally.
López Obrador has raised the minimum wage and expanded state social benefits, but has failed to substantially reduce the alarmingly high number of homicides. Tallying at over 30,000 nationwide, they remain historically high. He has slashed funding for the police and reallocated it to the National Guard, who critics allege lack the necessary proficiency and investigative skills to tackle drug cartels.
Two Women Seek Mexico's Presidency
Gálvez guaranteed to restore resources to the police and ensure a minimum monthly salary of €1,100 for them. Furthermore, she pledged to repair the divided nation. "Let's put an end to division, hatred, [and] remember that we are all Mexicans."
Sheinbaum, who leads in the polls, vowed to maintain López Obrador's policies but create jobs for youths to prevent them from joining the drug cartels. "Jobs for all and continuation of the peace and security strategy will be how we move forward," she said. "This is not a policy of a firm hand. This is justice."
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After the election campaign concluded, concerns about political violence persisted, with several mayoral candidates being assassinated in Guerrero and Jalisco before the elections. Despite the rise in violence, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the outgoing president of Mexico, faced criticism from his opponent Galvez for neglecting criminals. In Jalisco, Galvez accused Lopez Obrador of failing to substantially reduce the high number of homicides in Mexico City, where she and Sheinbaum were campaigning for mayoral seats.
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