The campaign season in Mexico concluded on a grim note as a prospective mayor was brutally gunned down at a political rally on Wednesday.
This incident occurred just days before the country is set to make history by electing its first female president.
The deceased, Alfredo Cabrera, was a mayoral candidate representing an opposition coalition. His murder took place in the southern state of Guerrero, causing widespread panic and chaos among the rally attendees. The horrifying incident was caught on camera, showing Cabrera smiling and surrounded by supporters moments before he was shot multiple times.
According to the state prosecutor's office, the alleged shooter was killed on the spot. Three bystanders were injured in the incident, and two others were taken into custody, as per eyewitness accounts.
Cabrera's murder marks the 23rd candidate to be killed during this electoral process, making it one of the most violent in the history of the Latin American nation, as per official records.
Cabrera was part of the same opposition coalition as presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez, who expressed her outrage over his murder on social media, describing him as a "generous and good man." The Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), a member of the opposition coalition, criticized the government for its failure to ensure the safety of the candidates.
This incident follows the murder of another mayoral candidate in the central Mexican state of Morelos just a day prior, and the wounding of another candidate by gunfire in the western state of Jalisco. Last week, two separate attacks on mayoral candidates in the southern state of Chiapas resulted in the death of nine people, although the candidates survived.
The escalating violence has led to the deployment of approximately 27,000 soldiers and National Guard members to bolster security on election day. The next leader of Mexico will face the daunting task of addressing the rampant cartel violence that has plagued the country, making it one of the most dangerous in the world. Other challenges include managing migration and maintaining delicate relations with the neighboring United States.
Since the government's decision to deploy the army to combat drug trafficking in 2006, over 450,000 people have been murdered and tens of thousands have disappeared.
Despite the violence, the election is expected to be a historic one, with a woman likely to be elected as the leader of the world's most populous Spanish-speaking country. Claudia Sheinbaum, the frontrunner from the ruling Morena party, concluded her campaign with a rally in the capital's main square, promising to "make history."
Sheinbaum, a former Mexico City mayor and scientist, has pledged to continue the social programs and crime-fighting strategy of outgoing left-wing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, a policy he dubs "hugs not bullets."
In contrast, Galvez, a center-right senator and businesswoman with Indigenous roots, has promised a tougher stance on cartel-related violence. She accused Lopez Obrador of implementing a security strategy that favors criminals over citizens.
According to research firm Oraculus, Sheinbaum enjoys a significant lead in the polls with 53 percent of voter support, followed by Galvez with 36 percent. The only male candidate, centrist Jorge Alvarez Maynez, trails with 11 percent.
Sheinbaum's popularity is largely attributed to her close ally, Lopez Obrador, who has an approval rating of over 60 percent but is only allowed to serve one term. However, critics fear that a Sheinbaum victory would result in a continuation of Lopez Obrador's policies, which they believe have led to Mexico's decline.
As the country gears up for its largest-ever elections, with nearly 100 million people registered to vote, the escalating violence against political candidates remains a pressing concern. Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez reported that 22 people running for local office had been killed since September, while non-governmental organizations like Data Civica have reported an even higher death toll.
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