Mexico election violence: Over 20 candidates murdered in campaign
The bloody election campaign in Mexico. According to the BBC, at least 20 candidates have been killed in recent weeks. Many of the candidates have received death threats. Videos of the assassination of Alfredo Cabrera, who ran for mayor of the city of Coyuca de Benitez, have appeared online.
The general elections in Mexico are scheduled for 2 June. The residents will elect the country's president, but also local politicians. There are 628 seats for congressmen and eight governors to be filled.
According to the BBC, the election campaign for several weeks has been one of the bloodiest in the country's history. In recent days, Alfredo Cabrera, who was running for mayor of Coyuca de Benitez, was shot. Videos have just appeared online showing a gun aimed at the man. Earlier, Cabrera had met with voters at a rally.
A dozen shots can be heard in the recording. Guerrero state officials said members of Mexico's National Guard returned fire, killing the bandit at the scene. Cabrera was under police protection because he had been attacked a year earlier. Investigators are to clarify why the attack occurred.
Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado condemned the "cowardly" act and called on the state prosecutor's office to "apply the full weight of the law against the person or persons responsible." In this one state alone, five mayoral candidates and one deputy candidate have been killed.
More than 20 people were murdered during the campaign in Mexico
According to information from BBC journalists who accessed government documents, since last September, 22 people running for local government positions have been murdered. However, according to non-governmental organizations, the number could be much higher.
Among those killed were Alberto Garcia, running for mayor of San Jose Independencia, and Noe Ramos Ferretiz, who was running for mayor of Ciudad Mante.
A woman will become Mexico's president for the first time in history. In the presidential elections, Xóchitl Gálvez and favorite Claudia Sheinbaum, the protégé of current president López Obrador, are running. The latter is not running due to a constitutional limit of one six-year term.
Both women promise to address the country's rising crime rates. According to the media, organized groups are trying to fight for influence in the government, destroying democracy. Mexico is also trying to manage a wave of migrants attempting to cross into the U.S. About 30,000 soldiers (approximately 27,000 CEST) are expected to keep order during the elections.
