[ad_1]
A candidate for mayor was killed in Mexico. Before the June 6 legislative election, the total number of murdered candidates across the country reached 34. The election will fill thousands of local seats and nearly half of the country’s governor.
According to local media reports, Alma Barragan was shot and killed on Tuesday while running for mayor of Moroline. Violent state of Guanajuato In central Mexico. According to reports, two other people were injured.
On Wednesday, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stated that the killing was “unquestionably” Organized criminal gang They killed candidates to intimidate voters away from polling stations.
Lopez Obrador said at a daily press conference: “When there is a large number of abstentions, the mafia will dominate the election.”
Experts say that drug gangs hope to place sympathetic candidates in city halls and city governments so that they can operate without police intervention and extortion money from local businesses and government budgets.
They also said that violence during the election was not new.
Gladys McCormick, a professor of history and security expert at Syracuse University, said: “There are always violent incidents in elections and election cycles, especially at the level of mayors. It feels much more than usual.”.
“This proves the impact of organized crime. These local elections are trying to influence institutions,” McCormick told Al Jazeera. “Organized crime has infiltrated municipalities and municipal law enforcement,” she said. “This is going up.”
People are holding photos of Jose Remedios Aguirre, the mayoral candidate who was shot dead in broad daylight in Apaseo El Alto, Mexico [File: Eduardo Verdugo/AP Photo]
Tony Payan, director of the Baker Institute’s Center for the United States and Mexico, said the June 6 election is particularly important for organized crime groups because it will elect hundreds of mayors across the country.
“This election is seen by organized crime as a way to consolidate their gains and then advance their control of territories, cities, towns and communities,” Payan told Al Jazeera.
“Organized crime is fully involved in this election,” Payan said. “They are killing and kidnapping candidates, extorting money from candidates, and even asking certain candidates to step down because they understand who can be their allies and who Can be controlled. Enter the local government.”
Etellekt Consulting said that the vast majority of the 34 killed candidates are competing for nomination or running for local positions. The organization stated that a total of 88 politicians have been assassinated since the beginning of the election season last year.
As the civic movement mayor candidate was murdered #Morrolan, Guanajuato, Alma Barragan, 88 politicians were assassinated # Elecciones2021MX (Among them 34 aspiring and candidate candidates). pic.twitter.com/JuuGPFxoGv
-Etellekt consultant (@etellekt_) May 26, 2021
Translation: With the assassination of civic movement candidates #moroleon, Guana Fort, Alma Fort, 88 politicians were assassinated in #elecciones2021mx (34 of them are candidates for aspiring or current candidates).
Barragan is seeking votes from the small civic movement party.
The party said in a statement: “It is impossible to imagine that participating in political life means putting one’s own life at risk.” statement.
The statement said: “This is the most violent election in Mexico’s history. In the civic movement, we are unwilling to act as if it is normal.”
in a videoClemente Castaneda, the party’s national coordinator, condemned what he called the killing, which he said was “complete impunity.” He called on the authorities to hold the responsible person accountable.
Castaneda said: “Alma Barragan (Alma Barragan) joined the long list of politicians and candidates who were assassinated in this election process.” “Like we said on multiple occasions. As it used to be, the Mexican nation has a responsibility,” he said.
Moroleon, located near the border with Michoacán, was also violently attacked by drug cartels. The armed Jalisco Cartel has been fighting the local gangs supported by the Sinaloa Cartel to control Guanajuato.
[ad_2]
Source link
