How Mexico faces one of the most violent electoral campaigns in its history

On April 1, Gisela Gaytán, candidate for mayor of Celaya, in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, was murdered on the first day of the campaign. The member of the ruling National Regeneration Movement (Morena) party thus became the latest victim of the candidates running in the federal elections on June 2 in Mexicowhich is already among the most violent in the country’s history.

According to the media outlet Milenio, since November 20th, when pre-campaigns began at the federal level13 politicians were murdered, including candidates, pre-candidates or people who aspired to govern a municipality in seven states in the country.

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However, the organization Electoral Laboratory maintains an annual record that indicates that since June last year there has been perpetration 51 murders related to the elections this June 2. This record already exceeds the 43 homicides in the previous presidential elections, in 2018, according to a report published this Tuesday.

Gisela Gaytan in campaign (Photo: FB Gisela Gaytan) (Antonio Marant/)

Of these 51 victims, 27 were candidates for elected office, while the rest were family members, politicians or public servants, detailed the “Second preliminary report on electoral violence in the 2023-2024 process” of the Electoral Laboratory.

In total, the Electoral Laboratory recorded 156 attacks on people related to the elections, in which, in addition to the murders, there were nine kidnappings, 22 attacks and 75 threats.

The parties with the highest number of murdered candidates are those of the government Brunette, with 10; and the opponent National Action Party (PAN)with five.

The investigation found that The months with the highest number of murders were July, October, January, February and March.

“The increase in cases in the last three months was 150%, which shows that we are facing a spiral of violence that coincides with the conclusion of pre-campaigns and the registration of candidates at local level”, warned the Electoral Laboratory.

The states with the most cases of electoral violence are Guerrero, Veracruz and MichoacánAccording to the report.

The states with the most murders. (Electoral Laboratory).

In an interview with journalist Carmen Aristegui, Daniela Ariascoordinator of Electoral Laboratorywarned on Tuesday that, two months before the conclusion of the electoral process, violence could reach grim figure in 2021when the company registered 88 homicides, of which 30 corresponded to candidacies or pre-candidacies.

“Unfortunately, we are two numbers away from reaching this 2021 target, which, according to several analysts in the country, was an extremely violent process,” said Arias.

Integral is another consultancy that monitors electoral violence in Mexico. In its latest report it revealed that between September 1st last year and April 1st this year, almost 400 people linked to different political campaigns were victims of violence, whether threats, kidnappings or murders.

Armando Vargas, consultancy consultant Integraltold Bloomberg that “if the trend continues, this electoral process will end with more than 500 victims of political violence, mainly associated with the intervention of organized crime in elections”.

In addition to the murders, the report Integral indicates that the most common attacks are threats, firearm attacks, kidnappings and disappearances. 32% of attacks are directed at candidates, followed by current and former government officials, politicians and former politicians and, finally, family members.

On the side of the President’s Government Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO)the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Rosa Icela Rodríguezrecognized on Tuesday the murder of 15 candidates related to the current electoral process.

He revealed that As of April 1, 108 requests for protection had been receivedof which 86 have already been treated, 12 are under risk analysis and 10 were refused.

The federal government maintains that the protection of local candidates is up to the authorities in each state.

Relatives of Gisela Gaytán cry during her funeral in Celaya, Guanajuato state, Mexico, on April 3, 2024. (Photo by MARIO ARMAS / AFP). (MÁRIO ARMAS/)

The murder of Gisela Gaytan37 years old, confirms how vulnerability by the State facilitates the actions of criminals.

The candidate for mayor of Celaya revealed that had requested protection from the authoritiesbut received no response, so the investigations also seek to determine whether there was negligence, according to the government of AMLO.

Hours before his death, a journalist asked Gaytán about the request for protection. “Let’s see if they have an answer for us today,” she replied.

April 1st, Gisela Gaytán decided to take a walking tour of almost two blocks of the community of San Miguel Octopanas he headed to a meeting with community leaders.

Raúl González Mezacounselor of Gaytanspoke to the Spanish newspaper El País and explained that the candidate decided to walk because There were people on the street who wanted to greet her.

According to witnesses, Four young gunmen who arrived aboard two motorcycles were responsible for the crime.

The youngest of the group, between 20 and 25 years old, Gisela Gaytán approached her, pretending to want to greet her., when he pulled out a firearm and shot him in the body. After the candidate fell to the ground, She was killed with at least three shots to the head.

Witnesses said that two of the killers acted as militants, observing the murder from the rear of the contingent of supporters, one from one of the motorcycles and the other on foot. This crime sequence was recorded on a video that was widely circulated.

The Infobae portal reported that Morena’s candidate for Senator of the Republic Ricardo Sheffield, I say that Gaytán had a escort provided by himself, who was injured during the attack. The candidate did not have a security fence.

Celaya It is the third most populous city in Guanajuato and is located in the area known as Laja – Bajío, one of the most violent in the state and countryaccording to the EFE agency.

The city is governed by Javier Mendoza Márquezof PAN, whose son was murdered in 2022.

Source: Elcomercio