In Mexico, a wave of political murders ahead of elections eats away at democracy

From September to May, 34 candidates or aspiring candidates have been assassinated, with most killings linked to drug cartels seeking to influence local elections.

May 24, 2024, 12:24 PM CDT / Source: Reuters
By Reuters

ACAPULCO, Mexico — Guarded by more than a dozen police officers equipped with semi-automatic rifles and donning a helmet and bulletproof vest, Ramiro Solorio looks more like he is leading an armed raid than running for local political office.

But in parts of Mexico, where scores of local political candidates have been murdered ahead of national elections on June 2, the risk of violence and assassination are so high that many feel they have no choice but to campaign alongside armed guards or wear flak jackets and move around in armored cars.

“We are afraid of being murdered,” Solorio, 55, said, as he greeted residents in one of Acapulco’s poor outskirts, the underbelly of this glitzy tourist spot, where streets stink with overflowing garbage and pools of stagnant water. He is protected by 15 members of the National Guard after federal authorities found significant risks to his safety.

More political candidates — six — have been killed in the state of Guerrero, where Acapulco is located, than in any other in Mexico.
From September to May, across Mexico, 34 candidates or aspiring candidates have been assassinated. Security analysts say the killings are mostly linked to drug cartels seeking to influence local elections.

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Solorio, who is running for mayor of Acapulco for the Social Encounter Party, is particularly concerned because he has made security a core issue of his campaign. Frequently dressing as a Mexican wrestler in a blue “lucha libre” mask, he has dubbed himself “El Brother,” as he goes door to door promising to get tough on crime and corruption.

More:
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/mexico-wave-political-murders-ahead-elections-eats-away-democracy-rcna153964