Violence Plagues Mexico Ahead of General Election
As Mexico gears up for its largest general election ever in terms of voters and seats, a wave of violence has swept across the country, targeting candidates, their relatives, and party members. At least 36 people seeking office have been killed since last June, according to a New York Times analysis.
The recent attacks have shocked the nation, with candidates being shot multiple times while working out at the gym, dying during campaign rallies, or walking the streets with supporters when gunfire erupts. This surge in violence can largely be attributed to local criminal groups vying for power and territory in the absence of larger organized crime syndicates.
The violence is not new to Mexico, as in the last election cycle in 2021, 32 candidates were killed. Political scientist Manuel Pérez Aguirre explains that these attacks serve as a warning to other candidates to lower their profile and remind citizens that they are being watched in what he calls a “surveilled democracy.”
The scale of this year’s election, with over 20,000 local positions and more than 600 federal seats up for grabs, has also contributed to the escalating violence. Organized crime groups see local politics as the most vulnerable and effective way to exert influence, capturing government resources and control over security forces.
In response to the killings, the country’s electoral agency has coordinated with federal security forces to provide protection to candidates who request it. However, challenges such as a lack of resources and weakened local police have made it difficult to quell the violence and keep authorities safe.
As Mexico grapples with this alarming trend of election violence, the government and law enforcement agencies are working to ensure the safety of candidates and uphold the integrity of the upcoming election.
