Another candidate killed in Mexico ahead of June 6 vote Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador News

A mayoral candidate has died in Mexico, bringing the number of candidates killed internationally to 34 before the June 6 legislative elections, which will fill thousands of local seats and nearly half of the country’s governors.

Alma Barragan was shot dead on Tuesday, according to local media reports, while campaigning for mayor of the city of Moroleon a violent Guanajuato statue In central Mexico. Two other people were reportedly injured.

On Wednesday, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the assassination was “definitely” the case organized gangs of criminals those who were killing candidates to oust voters from the polls.

“When there is a lot of abstention, the mafia dominates the election,” Lopez Obrador said in his daily press conference.

Experts say the drug gangs want to place genuine candidates in town halls and city governments so that they can operate without police intervention and extract money from local businesses and government budgets.

They say violence is not new in the election either.

“There’s always been violence with elections and election cycles, especially at the mayoral level, you see things getting hotter, but this time it seems more than normal,” said Gladys McCormick, a history professor and security expert at Syracuse University. .

“It’s a testament to the impact of organized crime in trying to shake institutions with these local elections,” McCormick told Al Jazeera, “organized crime has infiltrated municipalities, law enforcement at the municipal level,” he said. “This is making its way.”

In Apaseo El Alto, Mexico, a candidate for mayor, Jose Remedios Aguirre, was shot dead in broad daylight. [File: Eduardo Verdugo/AP Photo]

Tony Payan, director of the U.S. and Mexico Center at the Baker Institute, said the June 6 election is particularly crucial for organized criminal groups, which will elect hundreds of mayors across the country.

“He perceives the crimes organized by these elections as a way to consolidate profits and then take control of territories, cities, towns and neighborhoods,” Payan told Al Jazeera.

“Organized crime is fully concerned in these elections,” Payan said, “candidates are being killed and kidnapped and money is being snatched from candidates because some candidates are also demanding to resign because they understand who can be an ally and who can control once they get into local government. “.

The consulting firm Etellekt said an absolute majority of the 34 candidates who died are running for candidacy or for local positions. The group says a total of 88 politicians have been killed since the election season began last year.

With the murder of the candidate of the Citizens’ Movement for Mayor of the town #Moroleon, Guanajuato, Alma Barragán, there are 88 politicians dead # Elections2021MX (34 of them candidates and candidates for elected office). pic.twitter.com/JuuGPFxoGv

– Etellekt Consultores (@etellekt_) May 26, 2021

Translation: Along with the assassination of the #Moroleon, Guanajuato, Alma Barragan mayoral candidate of the Citizens’ Movement, 88 politicians have been killed during the # Elecciones2021MX era (34 of them elected or current candidates).

Barragan was running with the card of the small party of the Citizens Movement.

“It is unthinkable that participation in political life could endanger one’s life,” the party said statement.

“These are the most violent elections in Mexican history, and we in the Citizens Movement are not ready to act as if that is normal,” the statement said.

In one video, The national coordinator of the party, Clemente Castaneda, condemned the murder with “complete impunity”. He asked the authorities to hold them accountable.

“Alma Barragan joins the long list of politicians and candidates killed in this election process,” Castaneda said. “And as we’ve said more than once, the Mexican nation is responsible,” he said.

Moroleon is near the Michoacan state border, also plagued by drug cartel violence. The Jalisco armed cartel has fought against local gangs backed by the Sinaloa cartel to control Guanajuato.