A candidate for mayor of the state of Veracruz, in eastern Mexico, was shot dead this Friday (4) in the night, according to his political formation. The elections, which take place this Sunday (6), were preceded by episodes of violence during the campaigns.
According to the AFP news agency, candidate René Tovar was at home when he was shot and died on his way to hospital.
“We strongly condemn the assassination of René Tovar, candidate for mayor of Cazones de Herrera, Veracruz,” Clemente Castañeda, national coordinator of the Movimiento Ciudadano party, wrote on social media.
This Sunday (6), Mexico is organizing large-scale elections, in which more than 20,000 positions will be contested – the election will renew the entire Chamber of Deputies and change half of the governors, as well as the mayors and regional legislators.
As the elections approach, attacks on candidates have increased. According to private consultant Etellekt, in the process 89 politicians died, of which 35 were running for office in this election.
On Friday, the Veracruz government announced that it would mobilize around 5,200 members of the various security forces for the elections.
On Wednesday (2), Marilú Martínez, candidate for mayor of Cutzamala de Pinzón, in the southern state of Guerrero, was kidnapped. Her party later reported that she was found alive.
On May 28, Cipriano Villanueva, candidate for the post of municipal councilor of Acapetahua by the Chiapas Unidos party, was shot dead.
Three days earlier, Alma Barragán, candidate for mayor of Moroleón through the Citizen’s Movement of the Central State of Guanjuato, had been shot dead during a campaign in which she was participating with the inhabitants of that city.
Many of these acts of violence are linked to the contestation of positions that involve the maintenance of privileges and the control of illicit businesses. Mexico has more than 300,000 deaths, according to official data. Many of these crimes are linked to the actions of the drug cartels.