Political Violence Escalates in Mexico Ahead of Historic Presidential Election

Another local political candidate has been killed in Mexico as the country prepares to hold a historic presidential election on Sunday amid a dramatic rise in political violence.

Latest Incident of Violence

Mayoral candidate José Alfredo Cabrera Barrientos was gunned down in the municipality of Coyuca de Benítez in Guerrero state during his campaign closing rally on Wednesday. The person believed to have murdered Cabrera Barrientos "was killed at the scene," the attorney general’s office in the state of Guerrero, which is investigating, said in a statement Wednesday night.

Cabrera Barrientos belonged to the Broad Front for Mexico opposition coalition, comprising the conservative National Action Party (PAN), the small progressive Democratic Revolution Party, and the old-guard Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).

Rising Tide of Political Violence

His killing is the most recent in a string of violent attacks against political figures since Mexico's official electoral process began in September. Since then, at least 749 instances of political violence have been reported, according to an analysis from Integralia, a public affairs consulting firm that researches political risk and other issues in Mexico.

These incidents include the killings of 231 people, 34 of whom were political candidates. The analysis also documented armed attacks, assaults, kidnappings, disappearances, and threats against candidates, former and current public officials and politicians, as well as their relatives and other collateral victims.

The violence represents a 150% increase in the number of victims of political violence across the country compared to the last election season, which ended in 2021, according to Integralia.

Previous Victims

On May 16, police stood guard as forensic personnel removed the bodies of Aníbal Zúñiga Cortés, a PRI candidate for mayor of Coyuca de Benítez, and his wife, Rubí Bravo Solís, who were killed in Acapulco, Guerrero state.

Scope of the Upcoming Election

The violence is taking place as the country holds the largest election in its history on Sunday, casting votes for all 628 seats in both chambers of Congress and tens of thousands of local positions, according to the National Electoral Institute.

Presidential Candidates

As violence and security remain top of mind for voters, both of Mexico’s front-running presidential candidates, Claudia Sheinbaum and Xóchitl Gálvez, officially closed their campaigns on Wednesday.

One of them is expected to make history as Mexico's first female president, because Jorge Álvarez Máynez, the Citizen Movement party’s presidential candidate, is running a distant third in the polls.

Campaign Closings

Sheinbaum, of Mexico’s governing political party, Morena, founded by her mentor, the outgoing president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, held her final rally in Mexico City’s colonial-era central square. She delivered a strongly nationalistic speech to a large crowd, promising to combat violence

by continuing López Obrador’s policy of offering apprenticeships to discourage young people from joining drug cartels.

“We will deepen the strategy of peace and security and the progress that has been made,” Sheinbaum said. “This is not an iron fist” policy, she said. “This is justice.”

Gálvez, of the opposition coalition Broad Front for Mexico, held her rally on the outskirts of Mexico City and criticized López Obrador’s “hugs not bullets” policy of not confronting the drug cartels, which have taken over large parts of Mexico, extorting protection money from residents.

She pledged to unite a nation that has been highly polarized by López Obrador’s rhetoric. “Enough division, enough hatred. ... We are all Mexicans,” Gálvez said.

Broader Implications

The surge in political violence in Mexico not only threatens the electoral process but also highlights the broader issues of security and governance that the next president will need to address. The upcoming election is a pivotal moment for Mexico, as it seeks to navigate these challenges and move towards a more stable and unified future.

The violence has cast a shadow over the democratic process, raising concerns about the safety of political candidates and the integrity of the election. The high stakes and the volatile environment underscore the urgent need for effective strategies to combat violence and ensure the safety of all citizens.

Historical Context and Current Stakes

This election is crucial not only because it may result in Mexico's first female president but also because it represents a critical juncture for the nation's democracy. The backdrop of increasing violence and political instability amplifies the stakes, making the outcome and the process leading up to it even more significant.

The Role of International Observers and Media

The presence of international observers and the global media’s attention on Mexico’s elections are essential in ensuring transparency and fairness. The international community's scrutiny can provide a layer of accountability, pressing the government and electoral bodies to uphold democratic standards despite the challenges.

Future Directions

As the election approaches, the responses from the presidential candidates and their proposed policies will be pivotal in shaping the nation's future. Both Sheinbaum and Gálvez have made strong statements about their plans to address violence and unify the country. The effectiveness of their strategies and their ability to implement them will be critical in determining the direction Mexico takes post-election.

Conclusion

As Mexico stands on the brink of a historic presidential election, the rising tide of political violence casts a long shadow over the democratic process. The death of José Alfredo Cabrera Barrientos is a stark reminder of the dangers faced by political candidates in Mexico. The nation's ability to hold free and fair elections in the face of such violence is critical for its democratic health and future stability. The responses from the presidential candidates underscore the urgent need for effective strategies to combat violence and ensure the safety of all citizens.

The coming days will be critical as Mexico navigates through this period of uncertainty. The world watches as the nation strives to uphold its democratic values and secure a stable future amidst the turbulence of political violence and social unrest.