The campaign for the general elections in Mexico was marked this Monday, April 2, by the murder of two local candidates in the municipality of Celaya, 250 km from Mexico City.
The victims were Bertha Gisela Gaytán (photo), then President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s (AMLO) candidate for mayor, and Adrián Guerrero, a candidate for councilman.
“It’s a sad day because yesterday they murdered the candidate for mayor of Celaya. These events are very regrettable, there are people who fight to make democracy count.”said AMLO at the beginning of his press conference this Monday.
The crime occurred in the community of San Miguel Octopan, in Celaya. Three other people ended up injured.
No suspects had been detained as of mid-afternoon on Monday.
Diego Sinhue Rodríguez, governor of the state of Guanajuato, where Celaya is located, also spoke about the case.
“The cowardly attack that took the life of candidate Bertha Gisela Gaytán in Celaya will not go unpunished, my deepest condolences to yours. I firmly condemn this inhumane act and reiterate my total commitment so that the State coordinates the efforts of all levels of Government in electoral processes and, thus, those who participate in them have the necessary protection”Sinhue Rodrígez published on his profile on X, formerly Twitter.
Violence in Mexico
Guanajuato, considered the most violent state in Mexico, reported more than 3,000 homicides in 2023 alone.
Gaytán’s death occurred on the same day she officially began her electoral campaign.
Violence related to organized crime in Mexico affects politicians from different spectrums, especially those who hold or are running for municipal and state positions.
In a recent report, the consultancy Laboratório Eleitoral pointed out that, from June 4, 2023, to March 26, 2024, 50 people were murdered in contexts of electoral violence, including 26 candidates.
Tags: local candidates murdered Mexico
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