MARAVATIO, MEXICO – Violence gripping Mexico’s upcoming elections escalated when two potential mayoral candidates for the Maravatio city elections were shot to death within hours of each other. This incident has intensified concerns over the growing influence of drug cartels attempting to sway the voting process, which is scheduled for June 2.
Despite the formal commencement of campaigns not due until later this week, the political climate has already heated up. During the last national elections in 2021, nearly three dozen candidates fell victim to such violence.
Early Tuesday, authorities discovered the lifeless body of Armando Pérez in his car. Pérez was representing the conservative National Action Party. Marko Cortés, the party’s leader, expressed his concern over the escalating violence and insecurity plaguing the country’s key elections.
Furthermore, another candidate, who had intended to run from the Morena party, was also killed. Though Zavala had announced his candidacy, he had not yet officially been appointed as the party’s representative. His murder was strongly condemned and labeled as a ‘cowardly and reprehensible act’ by the Morena party state committee.
Presently, Michoacan, a state to the west, bears the brunt of gang warfare, primarily between the Jalisco New Generation cartel and a local gang, the Viagras.
Civic Data, a watchdog, reported that 2023 had been the most violent year for political players, predicting that 2024 would probably be worse. Michoacan ranked fifth among states harboring the highest number of attacks on political figures and government officials in 2023.
According to Integralia Consultants, organized crime will meddle in the local elections more than ever in 2024 due to the surge of territorial disputes among cartels, an expanded crime business model, and increased stakes in mayorship.
With a significant portion of their revenue coming from extorting local businesses and governments, the cartels place more emphasis on mayoral elections compared to national ones, often resulting in brutal attacks.