Local Aspirants at Risk Amid Escalating Cartel Presence – Sky Bulletin
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As the 2023 electoral season unfolds, Mexico is witnessing an alarming surge in violence against local political figures, signaling what might become the nation’s most violent election period to date. Numerous incidents underline the gravity of the threat posed by organized crime elements seeking to exert their influence over political outcomes.
In a disturbing episode on February 7, gunmen kidnapped Julián López, a Citizen Movement party coordinator in Guerrero, along with two associates. After enduring a brutal assault, López was left abandoned near a landfill. The situation proved even direr for two mayoral candidates in Maravatio, Michoacan, who were murdered on the same day. Similarly, another mayoral candidate in that region had been found deceased in November.
The capital’s outskirts bore witness to the murder of a Morena party congressional candidate and his brother, an event preceded by a January 5 attack in Chiapas, where an Institutional Revolutionary Party local leader and mayoral candidate was killed. That same day, in the state of Colima, a Citizen Movement party mayoral candidate fell victim to a shooting.
The precariousness of local candidates’ safety is starkly evident as they grapple with the dilemma of employing visibly heightened security measures, which might alienate them from the public. With the June 2 elections poised to be the largest in the country’s history, involving over 20,000 public posts, local candidates, who lack the protection provided to national candidates, are left exposed to the dangers posed by criminal organizations.
The prevalence of election-related violence at the local level is underscored by the research of Political Scientist Manuel Pérez Aguirre, who documented the assassination of 32 local candidates in the 2021 elections. The data illustrates that organized crime’s control at the municipal level is a strategic goal, leading to an environment where local authorities, including the police, are often outgunned and ineffective against the cartels.
Despite the string of violent incidents, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has downplayed the situation, calling on regional authorities to take responsibility for the protection of local electoral candidates. In the meantime, political parties such as the Institutional Revolutionary Party in Michoacan are facing candidates’ resignations out of fear, while others call for increased protective measures.
With organized crime groups not only engaging in political assassinations but also funding and even fielding their own candidates, the challenge to democracy in Mexico is acute, with Integralia Consultores warning of markets vulnerable to criminal interference and the undermining of the rule of law.
In reaction to the violence, some members of the National Action Party have already withdrawn from the electoral race, citing safety concerns. Nevertheless, resilient figures like Julián López, a survivor of kidnapping, insist on continuing their political endeavors in the face of adversity.
FAQs About Election-Related Violence in Mexico
Q: What is the extent of the threat to local candidates in Mexico’s upcoming elections?
A: Local candidates face significant risks from organized crime, with numerous reports of abductions, assaults, and murders. The situation signals a high level of danger for those running for municipal offices.
Q: Are local candidates provided with any security details?
A: Unlike candidates for national offices, those running for local positions are generally not provided with governmental security details, leaving them vulnerable to attacks from criminal groups.
Q: What has been the response of the Mexican government to this threat?
A: President López Obrador has largely placed responsibility for security on local government shoulders, while there have been calls from various politicians for more federal intervention to protect candidates.
Q: Why are cartels targeting local elections?
A: Organized crime groups seek to control local power structures as it allows them to operate with impunity, extract protection payments, and maintain influence over legal and illegal markets.
Conclusion
The alarming incidents of violence targeting local political aspirants in Mexico highlight the challenges facing democracy and rule of law in regions where organized crime wields significant influence. With the largest elections in the country’s history approaching, the safety of candidates remains a pressing concern. The national government’s stance, coupled with reports of candidates withdrawing from the race, underscores a precarious situation that demands urgent and effective measures to protect the integrity of Mexico’s electoral processes and the lives of those participating in them.
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